The Sun Goes Down Series

by Peregrine

A strange encounter with an artist who seems to more than he should spells danger for Billy and the team

14. The Sun Goes Down

Disclaimer:- Even after all this time no one has seen fit to give me rights to the Power Rangers – sad, but true. Yet here we are, the long-delayed conculsion to the 'Sun Goes Down' series which it really would help if you had read before attempting this one. It is dedicated to Dagmar and Mele in particular for their patience and assistance and just being good friends. Good friends who know when I need thwapping to get on with it and when I genuinely can't write for whatever reason and don't need to guilt trip on it. Thankyou to all those who have waited so patiently for this last installment, and I hope it was worth it! Enjoy!

The Sun Goes Down

By Peregrine

"So this is how it ends: the dark is all
There is no ending to this final night,
There is no answer to the silent call,
Beyond the darkness, never glimpse of light."
~ Dark Ending; Mercedes Lackey~

Hurrying footsteps. The sounds echoed down the corridor, of someone desperately trying to walk faster than they effectively could but not having the space to run. Every now and then the urgency produced an increase in pace, but he had already run most of the way already and was also trying to think of a way to impart the news he had, without destroying what little hope they had left.

"Even I'd want to shoot the messenger on this one," the Black Frog Ninjetti murmured aloud as he rounded a junction. Adam half-broke into a run as he finally reached the new Power Chamber, dark eyes searching instinctively for a figure dressed in blue … and rather disconcertingly finding several where he was used to finding one.

"Billy?" Adam called out, hurrying over, tension in his every movement.

From out of the crowd of Blue Ninjetti gathered around various consoles, one pushed back a chair.

"Adam? The Phaedos fleet arrived yet?" Billy asked, still typing with one hand, giving a slight frown at the information on his screens. That wasn't so good … hmm. Perhaps if he moved the variables around a little, gave them a tweak, they might feel right. At the moment he was getting some strange information back from the Power Chamber's consoles.

"Yes … well they were still landing at Moonbase when I had to return here," Adam began but was interrupted by Billy hastening on to what he thought was the conclusion.

"Great … we'll get them settled in and then have a quick orientation session." The Blue Wolf Ninjetti nodded to himself, satisfied with that course of events.

Adam took a deep breath. "There won't be time for that," he said and was aware of the sound around him fading out as people paused to listen. At one time that would have made him unbearably nervous but now it was what he had to say, not just saying it that was giving him a problem.

"What?" Billy recognised the tone in his voice. "What's wrong, Adam?"

"The Ninjetti first in have reported seeing the advance force of the Nid-hi … at …" Adam swallowed to wet a mouth suddenly dry with an immediate pounding fear so he could get this urgent message out. "At ... only a few hours outside our solar system."

A deathly hush descended, paralysing everyone in the Power Chamber as Billy's pale face looked up at him, mutely begging him to tell him this wasn't true.

"I'm … sorry," Adam said helplessly, knowing that this was really bad news, as they all did. He couldn't change the truth, however terrible it was, and found himself instinctively apologising for events out of his control as if somehow that would make it better. He was close enough to see his friend's hand shake before he pushed himself up, rapidly accessing data that confirmed this information.

"How the hell did they manage that?" Justin blurted out with more than a hint of panic in his voice. "Last estimate gave us over a day before they were even close enough to think about!"

"I made an error," Billy said in a tightly controlled voice. That had to be it, he had been the one mapping that data, so it was his responsibility. He must have missed something somewhere, only he was sure he had double-checked his conclusions and methodology over and over.

"I must have underestimated their fleet capabilities. I made an assumption they were travelling at their optimum speed when they thought Phaedos was the target." The Blue Wolf Ninjetti paused for a moment, trying to hide the cycles of self-recrimination that would haunt him now from surfacing on his expression. Whatever the outcome, he would always remember this failure at the very start. He needed TIME … he needed time to prepare and now he'd lost that margin he had clawed back from the enemy in one moment of foolish stupidity.

He nodded to Trini over at the other side of the console bank who opened a communications channel, her voice ringing out with a quiet authority in response to the inaudible communication between them.

"All Master Ninjetti report to the Power Chamber immediately. I repeat, immediately. Ninjetti personnel to prepare for Zord offensive in one earth hour. Zord offensive protocols now in place!"

"But …" Justin looked horrified, still finding it difficult to accept they had been so misled and immediately seeing their vulnerabilities with his keen mind, prioritising one of them to the top. "The Allies' fleet is nowhere near here yet … it's on the way from Triforia!"

By now most people in the room had already worked that out and Adam remained watching Billy's face, seeing that momentary fleeting panic and despair cross his expression before he erased all but a faint anxiety as he turned to face everyone pouring into the Power Chamber from every entrance.

Jason and Tommy practically ran in, stopping swiftly as they saw the expressions of those already there, halted by the nearly tangible tension that permeated the room in an oppressive atmosphere. By the time they were all assembled everyone KNEW there was something wrong, they just didn't know exactly what, and that in turn made them even more nervous and jumpy. Billy's close friends knew him well enough to recognise the signals; the brushing back of the hair, the slight frown despite the measured breathing that practically screamed that there was major trouble pending.

"I need to buy back time," Billy muttered and then looked up. "Guys, we have a serious problem. The Darkness Visible and the Nid-hi will be in striking distance of Earth itself in less than six hours. Ideally we need to stop them before they even get that far, and we need that time to set up our Ninjetti fleet."

The Ninjetti leaders looked at each other, unsure of where to start. All their battle plans of the past few days had been turned on their heads in one fell stroke and even their worst-case scenario had not envisaged being without some support.

"Should we ask the Council of the Wise about this?" Rocky frowned, his mind aghast at the scale of this problem as Justin called up more direct information. The various downloads from the Zords that had just sped from Phaedos showed a variety of images of the vast space armada bearing down inexorably on their solar system, and its frighteningly close proximity to their point in space.

Billy looked up at the images on the screen and fell silent for a moment. Cestro glanced at him sympathetically as the Blue Wolf Ninjetti made a hard decision, hearing the heavy sigh where others did not.

"No. Because they would not condone what I am about to ask us all to do." Billy looked around, appealing to them with his eyes for co-operation. When they realised what one of his contingency plans was, they might balk at the idea. "Jason, Zack, Trini and any of you others with diplomatic skills – I need you now. Justin, pull up the WolfTech Plan, password Unilateral Disarmament."

The young Blue Dolphin Ninjetti's eyes widened as he dutifully pulled up the hypothetical strategy that Billy required. A map of the world flashed up in their expanded viewing globe, complete with red marker dots clustered in various places.

Jason frowned. He recognised that pattern … or at least he thought he did. From his days at the Peace Conference meetings, surely they had had some similar maps up, but he was trying to remember what for exactly. "Billy … what are you planning here?" he asked cautiously, looking at his longtime friend as if searching for signs of some coherent plan.

The sandy-haired Ranger looked round and gave a slight half-smile, which was more an expression of his appreciation of irony than an attempt to be comforting. "You remember talking to me about the Peace Conference? How it made you just want to get all the leaders together and tell them disarmament was going to happen whether they liked it or not and to stop acting like kids who were clinging to toys just because someone was trying to take them away?"

Jason blushed a little. "Er … yeah …" he shifted uncomfortably as he noticed his parents grinning in the background. Zack and Trini were also suppressing amusement. That was Jason all over.

Billy tapped a rapid series of commands and the teleporter started a major power accumulation.

"You may get your wish if this strategy is implemented. Cestro, you mind targeting and locking all these individuals and transporting them to our conference room?" Flash screens of famous faces appeared, Presidents, Leaders, Prime ministers. Billy looked at them a moment, people he had seen as wielders of the political powers of the world and now ... he was going to personally upset them a great deal.

"For a good Cause," his wolf spirit soothed.

"It would have to be," Billy replied mentally and took a deep breath before saying as nonchalantly as possible, "Jase ... you get to explain to them that we are appropriating their nuclear weapons."

Now that caused a stir in the Chamber around them. It would be hard to believe that there wouldn't be some form of reaction to such a radical proposal, though the form it came in was not necessarily what anyone expected.

"Wait, wait …" Rocky's mother stepped forward. "You can't just go around taking nuclear weapons!" She paused, looking around at the others. "Can you?"

"Er …" Hank Cranston gazed at Billy steadily. "I believe he can. The WolfTech nanochip, right?"

Billy nodded, grateful for his father's perception.

"Yes, but … isn't that stealing? I mean, we're not talking shoplifting here!" Rocky's mother protested, the enormity of this was getting to her. This was something they all had a grounding in, that her generation had grown up with – the inherent horror of nuclear weapons. How delicate a matter it would be to disarm; how terrifying what a destabilisation of power could do, and here was a young man, barely old enough to be in college, dictating this impossible thing!

"Mama, we're not dealing with something minor here either," Rocky intervened hastily.

"I am perfectly aware of that. Otherwise he would be grounded so fast his feet wouldn't touch the ground!" Lillian DeSantos paused, realising how ridiculous that sounded. "Only … I haven't yet decided what sort of punishment appropriating the thermonuclear capability of a planet involves. The nearest precedent is Rocky breaking Aunt Louisa's Vase."

For some reason the Ninjetti could not keep a straight face at that and the tension broke up into helpless chortles at the utter insanity of this situation. Here they were, discussing radically changing their world in such a dramatic fashion, and all it was from the perspective of the coming battle was … a delaying tactic.

Jason, Trini and Zack had had more lectures than they cared to remember on the implications of such a thing and under the cover of the hysteria-tinged laughter, the Red Lion Ninjetti spoke in a low voice to his friend. "Are you SURE we have to do this?"

Billy looked at him, leaning on the console, head turned sideways as if weighed down by an unbearable pressure. He felt old suddenly, weary beyond hope or belief.

"If I could think of another way … I would," he admitted by way of a response. "We will just have to hope there is someone left with the maturity to see this as an opportunity, should we make it. Jase … I really need you to try and ... communicate to these leaders what is happening. The odds are more that they will actually make Earth strikes now. I hoped to keep them away and not even have them aware of danger … but I think we are beyond that point."

"Lock is ready, Billy," Cestro informed him quietly, interrupting the private conference.

Billy nodded, looking to Jason as if to search for condemnation in his face and apparently found none.

"Teleport … and then begin the co-ordinate lock based on the military nano-chips that have been supplied by WolfTech. Every country in the world upgraded their missiles to compete with each other on that one," he sighed. "You best go, guys … there's a room full of confused world leaders who'd probably like to do more than ground me for a while."

Jason nodded and along with Trini, Zack, Delphine, Sisthaa and J'shaar strode off to the conference room, wondering as he walked how it was that Billy was making these decisions and not the Mentors. Maybe his longtime friend had a good reason – maybe he really did give credit to Phantom's claim that there was a traitor among the Council of the Wise. Suiting up in full Ninjetti guise so he would be recognisable as a Power Ranger along with the others, he took a deep breath and stepped through the open door to the conference room into chaos.

***

The atmosphere on the vast space fleet of the Darkness Visible was electric with excitement. Normally staid Nid-hi who usually comported themselves with dignity were behaving as badly as those who hadn't even shed their first horns. Finally the Purpose of their existence came down to here and now. They were the Chosen; they were coming out of the Outer Darkness to wage a Holy War. They were the ones of their race chosen to be alive here and now in the final confrontation and their minds were filled with the presentiment of destiny, coloured with myth and legend of their ancestors. It was an intoxicating thing to have such a meaningful focus to your life as a battle between Good and Evil, especially when you were so obviously in the right. That surety flowed through the veins of the entire race – bred in, trained in from an early age and reaching its flower in this moment.

Ilana the Silver Nid-hi was contemplating in a balancing meditation before she was to join her Deity in the accomplishment of the grand destiny of Order. Not a time for doubt.

"Jihad," she said, tasting the unfamiliar word in her mouth. The Darkness Visible had spoken the word and explained its power. Holy War. A war fought by the righteous to cleanse corruption from existence. They of course were the righteous, which by definition made the despised Ninjetti the force of corruption. And yet … and yet ... the worm of doubt was wriggling in the fertile depths of her mind.

A memory of waking, and he was there. The one whom she had tortured, he was there and there was no hatred in his eyes, only a questioning and fear of her. He could have slain her, weakened as she was after the joining with her Spider Spirit to channel that Power to the designs of the One. But he hadn't, had he? For a moment, it had seemed … seemed that he wanted to talk. Where had been the Evil? The Chaos that was meant to mark them with its taint?

She shuddered. Deception. Illusion. The One had said they twisted thoughts to encourage chaos in the mind of the righteous. Certainly there was confusion in her thoughts after she had been in contact with him. Even now her usual incomparable focus was destroyed by those gentle eyes. She could not head into battle until her thoughts were clean and sharp, focussed like a knife willing to strike without hesitation.

And yet … Order was Reason and he had seemed reasonable. He had seemed to hold in him the qualities of a Nid-hi.

No! Blasphemy!

Deep inside the suspicion that their mortal enemies might not necessarily be evil rocked the foundations of her mind and she retreated in fear from her own thoughts. No … this indecision was THEIR work. The One had Chosen the Nid-hi from their dying world when they had been little more than a child race. He had sheltered them, fed them, was their future and had promised them the fulfilment of their greatest need when they succeeded. A Home … a Home. For a space- born race they had been taught that they suffered the Darkness because they were destined to rule the Light in the name of Order. And so it had seemed as they conquered world after world, the order trained into their very selves making them adept at the power of Order, of the spirit of which the Ninjetti wielded a perverted corruption. That in itself showed that the realms of Spirit, that the universe itself supported their quest. And when the One retrieved the Orb of Order from the despised Ninjetti, then they would be elevated to their rightful destiny! Yes!

Amethyst highlights glinting in her liquid eyes, Ilana rose, her mind locked and purposeful. She would not abandon the purpose to which she had dedicated her life because of the look in the eyes of a creature of Chaos.

"No. The Jihad will come, and the righteous will win" she thought as she turned and walked to the command bridge of the fleet, committed now to her chosen path.

***

"Mr President, you are missing the point." Jason's voice cut through the tirade of bluster and indignity, projecting perfectly from his Ninjetti Spirit Warrior-armoured helmet. "Yes, there is an alien attack. No, it's NOT us … This is the attack we face." He showed the transmitted images up on one of the conference walls of the approaching invading Armada.

"Do you have ANY idea of the ramifications of what you are proposing?" The President of the United States blustered, trying to claw back a semblance of control and dignity.

"If you can indeed do what you claim you are going to do." One of the Middle Eastern Leaders said sourly, obviously sceptical.

"We are well aware of what this will mean," Trini said calmly. "And we have the capability to do this. We do not have the time or energy for wasteful posturing." There was a smooth criticism in her phrase. Jason had not been the only one to be annoyed by politics and bureaucracy at the Peace Conference.

"Absolutely unconscionable!" the Prime Minister of India said, clenching her hands more in fear than anything else. They had not long become a nuclear nation and now it was going to be stripped away!

"I suspect that you do not appreciate the gravity of this attack," Delphine soothed from behind her Ninjetti garb. The alien appearance of the Aquitians might be too much for them to deal with at this point in time

"I suspect, Miss, that you do not appreciate the impact of your actions on our countries!" she retorted. The murmur of agreement became a babble of confused and outraged sentiment, the world's leaders ironically perfectly in accord over the one thing they had never been able to agree upon before.

Jason lost his temper. In a deliberate, controlled and overall diplomatic fashion. His gauntleted fist slammed on the table, cutting through the chaos and noise.

"Quiet!" he bellowed in the tone that had made his Ranger teams jump to attention for so many years. It seemed to work.

"You all fail to grasp the point of this meeting. This is not a meeting to REQUEST whether we can do this; it is a meeting to ADVISE you what we are doing! " Jason said forcefully, his tone uncompromising. "We are taking your nuclear capability in a desperate attempt to save the Earth. Frankly, if there is anything left of your nations after this conflict, then you can lodge a complaint against us." His voice carried an unmistakable sarcastic edge that berated these adults for being petty in the face of overwhelming danger.

"Think about it as an opportunity," Zack interjected smoothly. "Under what other circumstances would you have the possibility of starting on an equal footing, and not dealing down the barrel of a gun? And, guys …" the familiarity slipped out as Zack's particular skill in diplomacy came into play, that of drawing everyone into a 'circle of friends' whether it existed or not before his intervention, "You've got to work together. We've been caught on the hop, we are outnumbered and outgunned, and we are going to need all the help we can get. This will mean from the Earth itself. I'd like to be confident enough to say the fight will never make it here … but man, those Nid-hi are tough." There was the impression of a smile in his voice, though his helmet masked his expression. "But then so are we!"

"It would be recommended that you put your military forces on alert," Trini interjected smoothly, providing the calming, familiar restrained diplomacy they were more familiar with and using it to settle them down a little, "… and take whatever provisions you, as leaders of your respective countries, deem necessary to protect your nations' people."

Assaulted from all sides, the various leaders were almost stunned into silence. Jason looked at them all and sighed inwardly. Well, they could not afford more time arguing a foregone conclusion.

"I thank you for you co-operation," Jason announced, aware of the irony. "We must get ready for the forthcoming conflict. You will be returned to where you were taken from and I hope you will take heed of our warnings. Good luck." He finished abruptly and signalled Cestro who teleported them away mid-protest.

Jason sat down slowly, un-helmeting himself and sighed in an exhalation of frustration and anxiety. "Well, that went well," he said wryly.

"Man, I'm not going to even consider how many acts of high treason you managed there," Zack joked, waggling a reproving finger at the Red Lion Ninjetti. "I can't think of anyone who has managed to upset quite so many important people all at once."

"Zack … don't tease him." Trini placed a gentle hand on Jason's muscular shoulder, recognising that subtle tension of unease and distress that showed in his posture. "You did well. They will listen – and frankly, they have no choice."

"Yeah … and that's what makes it stink, you know?" Jason replied fatalistically. He stared at the inexorably moving images on the view screen as they hypnotised him with their sheer numbers and threatening form. "If they'd given them up of their own accord, then they really would be gone. This way they'll all be sneaking around, trying to build them back up and get the jump on the others …"

"If they survive," J'shaar pointed out helpfully, which just made the Red Lion Ninjetti wince.

"Yeah … I guess." Jason looked up again and then sighed. "Human nature … what a marvellous thing. Fight to live, and then if they win, start planning how to die." He was definitely getting a case of the pre-battle blues. He touched a hand to his spirit crystal and thought at Billy.

"Billy? You might as well go ahead … they aren't happy, but … frankly, I told them they would have to live with it."

"Thanks, Jase," Billy responded, catching a little of the flavour of the emotion-tinged thoughts.

"It will be all right, Jase," he sent quietly with as much reassurance as he could muster. "It's the right thing to do."

He hoped.

***

In amongst the frantic preparation Billy found time for a drink and sat staring once more at the transcript of the Prophecy they had heard on Triforia. Behind him part of his more underhanded battle surprises downloaded instructions secretly to the fleet, surprises he had not mentioned to anyone, mindful of the Phantom Ranger's adamant assertion of a traitor in their midst. What a horrible sour thing it was to suspect one of your own! The Wolf part of him recoiled from the thought. Pack was Pack, and it was against every spirit instinct he was imbued with to distrust the Pack. That made it more difficult, but his human spirit knew all to well what those who fancied themselves 'higher' than animals could and would do to further their own ends; including betrayal. Even this exercise of studying the Triforian Prophecy was an effort to somehow unravel the binding threads of their apparent doom. Since they had learnt that the Prophecies had been an explicit attempt by the first Master Ninjetti Bar'ak to pass on information, Billy had become more convinced that there were answers there ... or at the very least the questions that needed to be asked.

"The Sun goes Down … Beware the Darkness Visible". Well, that made more sense now. After their brief encounter, he could see why the entity had been named the Darkness Visible, as that is what it had done and had been its powerful weapon. Made their fears, negative emotions visible to them in its amorphous form and then gave them a reality of their own as it turned it loose. Was that a limited ability? Possibly … but they had hurt it … with Ninjetti power. If it could be hurt it could be beaten, he had to keep telling himself that.

"In that Darkness no Light exists, but it is swallowed by Darkness. Yea, even that of the Shahin Tara Zed," he read aloud. His wolf-spirit rumbled within him at the stirring of denial that came when he contemplated the thought that his friend had a death and defeat written throughout the ages, echoed by wielders of the Power from across the Galaxy.

"That has to be about Skye," he said, maintaining a level tone. "And the fact that even if he wins or loses, he will not survive." Even to himself the statement sounded brittle with anger.

"It is his destiny to face the darkness." The wolfspirit spoke up.

"Don't you start. All the mentors can say is how it's his destiny to die and they are so accepting of it that they don't even attempt to question to see if it could be another way," Billy replied acerbically. "There has to be a way to save him!"

"You named him Phoenix."

The wolfspirit reminded him of the subtle hope he had invested in his choice, knowing even then that Skye had believed he would not live, even before the Council of the Wise shared their utter certainty of the artist's role. To them he was a tool, a weapon. When he made his final decision on Phaedos to become the Ninjettis' weapon, it was as if that final transformation had rendered him with as much soul as a sword or an arrow in the mentors' eyes. Trini had said that it was something to do with the fact he could not choose any more, that even the smallest particle of life had choice inherent in its being. Skye, as of the moment they were joined, did not. He lived because according to the Great Power, Billy's Will dictated it, not because he had a choice and for Billy that was a responsibility that he was not sure he could bear.

"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hadn't tried everything I could, not just for him, but for everyone," Billy said wearily. In a peculiar way he felt responsible for this conflict, even though logically he knew he was being swept along on a tide of events. "And there is always more I can do or could have done." The very air around him seemed heavy at that moment as he read on, trying to wish the responsibilities away.

"The threat is more than that which threatens the Light alone - All is threatened in the Fall of Darkness." Billy shivered as if a shadow had passed across him as he had described. "See now, that almost blatantly says 'do not assume you know what is going to happen'. Hmmm, obviously we are the Light, colours are a property of light after all, so if it is not just us that is threatened, then how much does ALL actually mean? Everything?" He shook his head at the ambiguousness of the phrase, skipping a little in his haste to find clues.

"Beware the Shadows in the Darkness. They will strike from within the Light, they will strike from within the Night, in ways unlooked for, for their Mind is not as it seems." That brought an unwelcome conclusion. "Phantom is right, we do have a traitor … but who? One reason why the Ferian X shipment was a secret even from them, and the nuclear strike." Billy groaned. So complicated!

So much had come to rest on him because of this suspicion, because he did not know if he could trust anyone. He HATED that. He had been through that stage in his life and wanted no more of it, gnawing away at him, constantly on guard. "Is he right that it is a mentor? Or one of the Ninjetti?"

"Examining what they hope to gain may give an answer," his wolfspirit said quietly, offering counsel, not answers.

"They have all the information … save Dulcea's, and that is meant to point to the specific location of the Orb of Order … aside from the fact it is as cryptic as Zordon on a bad day having a Dimitria moment. Hmmm, maybe there is still reason for the Darkness Visible to want to have a traitor on the inside." Great, just what we need ... watching our own backs when going off to face overwhelming odds. The Blue Wolf Ninjetti sighed and skipped over the transcript a little more.

"Spirit Warrior of the Wolf, seek your destiny within the lonely choice and decision upon which all else rests…" Billy practically snarled at the paper, allowing himself a moment of anger. "Why me?"

"Is there anyone else you would trust with this?" the wolfspirit said softly.

Billy opened his mouth to speak and then hesitated. "That is an evil thing to say," he replied eventually, desperately WANTING to say no, finding himself unable to do so.

"But nevertheless true," the wolfspirit answered.

"Well, whether I am the best choice or not, it's too late to bring in a substitute, I guess." Billy straightened his shoulders with a deep breath as he agonised over the most crucial part of the Prophecy.

"Know that in the ambiguity of Prophecy and Destiny lies salvation, for Words cannot be unsaid. Know that the Words of Prophecy have Power, but their final Power is in how they are read, not in the Word itself." He read it aloud again, as he had done over and over since he had heard the words spoken by the Aspect of Vision on Triforia. Even at the time he had felt some deeply personal meaning and message buried in those words. Ambiguity of words ... of course there were ways in which the phrases could be interpreted, but it was basically saying there had been a major error of assumption. What was the point of a Prophecy if no one could understand the damn thing until it was to late?

Billy chewed on the pen lid until the realisation hit him. Only one person was meant to understand the Prophecy, and with traitors in their midst then the crypticness was justified. But who was to say he was the one who was meant to interpret it all?

On the other hand … could he assume that he was NOT the one? He had too little time to pursue all options, and come what may, he HAD to see Trini before they went to War.

The download link bleeped, confirming its task was complete, signalling his time of contemplation was at an end. With a frown he stood up and remote-accessed WolfZord as the dip in the lights showed that the threatened disarmament had taken place.

"A farewell to arms," he said imagining the havoc he had instigated. "Pup, Cub – initiate a computer search in WolfZord across all known language databases for key words in the Prophecy." It would be a few hours before he started getting results, but there was nothing else he could think of doing.

"Initiated," came Pup's slightly deeper version of his own voice. It was strange that the little droids should have developed such a sense of individuality, but it appeared that each Zeebeedee had its own quirks. "WolfZord battle-ready."

"Thank you," Billy said automatically. "I'll be there soon. I just have to ... check on things first."

Like his decision to leave Justin alone with a nuclear arsenal.

***

If Billy was to worry about anything, it was the way that Justin had taken to appropriating the thermonuclear warheads with the glee of a six-year-old unwrapping Christmas presents.

"Wow … who would have though so many countries had them?" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "And so many, too!"

Mrs DeSantos gave him a quelling look. "I'm sure it's not healthy for a young man like yourself to be collecting … nuclear missiles," she said disapprovingly. Hank Cranston chuckled behind her.

The formidable woman turned. "Stop encouraging him! It's your son giving him a bad role model."

"And your son, too," Hank pointed out.

"Rocky never got involved with all this … science!" she denied, fighting her corner more to distract people from their nerves and tension than from any real belief in what she was saying.

Justin chortled next to her and earned himself another Look. "Enough of the playing with the nuclear arsenal, young man. If they have to be moved, then move them promptly and properly." She sniffed and Rocky, who had just stepped in, groaned and rolled his eyes and tried to back out of the door, a move thwarted by Kim and Tommy coming in behind him.

"Rockwell!" Lillian summoned him imperiously from where she was trying to watch over Justin. "Where have you been?"

"Er," Rocky swallowed, "With Kat, Mama, getting ready for battle." He had the grace to flush a little red as he said this.

Behind him he had the sniggering version of "Love is a battlefield" whistled nonchalantly by Tommy, accompanied by Kim's giggles before he coloured up completely. "Quit it, guys!" he hissed.

"Especially as I am sure that they have been as conscientious about preparing for battle as you have," Sam Trueheart said with a knowing smile, causing Tommy to swallow his teasing mid-whistle.

Oblivious to the banter going on, Billy strode in, looking at a piece of paper, apologising automatically as he bumped into those loitering in the doorway.

"Sorry … sorry … " he mumbled and looked up at the screens. "Justin, how are we doing?" he asked, blind to anything except the problem in front of him.

"Got most of 'em," Justin replied enthusiastically. "Where would you like them?"

"Here …" Billy tapped his makeshift astronomical map littered with very cursory notations. It was all he had had time to do, but he was counting on Justin's agile mind to fill in the gaps. "The moons will make a good staging ground. The critical step will be luring them close enough."

"I think we can handle that," Tommy said, more confidently now he could see what the shape of the plan was going to be in principle. "No problems, Billy."

"Good ... good. Look Justin, can you handle this?" the Blue Wolf Ninjetti asked, worried, fiddling with his sandy blond hair awkwardly. "I … I have to see Trini before this all starts." He just hoped no one would ask why as he was already feeling guilty about the time he was taking out of preparation to indulge a selfish need.

Fortunately no one had the tactlessness to question him on his motives as it was obvious that all participants in the battle to come had found some time to be with those they loved, even if it were stolen moments plucked from the stress and strain of the past few days.

They would not begrudge Billy that right for all their need of his expertise. To deny him what might be a last time face to face with the one he loved because he was seemingly indispensable would have been criminal. They were all aware of that constant terrifying possibility; though they laughed and joked around it, it flickered often beneath the surface of their thoughts, an ever present will o'the wisp of speculation luring them into dark dangerous realms of consideration.

"It's no problem, Billy," Justin said confidently and generously. "I've got it covered, they'll all be set up in time." Even if he had to bust a gut to do it, he would get it done without bothering the other Ninjetti. He felt he owed him that much for the trust that the older blue ranger had placed in him.

"Thanks, Justin," Billy said, not aware how much relief showed in his voice at that response. It concerned Tommy at least, who was somewhat sensitive to the possibility of Billy being overstrained after what had happened. "If anyone needs me, I'll be at Trini's, okay?" he said as he hastily turned to leave.

"Got it, yeah," Kim called back, trying to sound very relaxed and nonchalant as she watched their friend leave.

"And if the Darkness Visible turns up itself in the middle of the Power Chamber asking for a cup of sugar, it will have to wait until that young man is done." Lillian DeSantos voiced the thoughts of the entire room in the moment of silence that followed his departure in a soft voice - a sentiment that everyone present echoed one way or another.

***

Trini had independently reached a similar decision to Billy's, but before she tracked him down she had made one short stop. She went to see Skye who had retreated into his own room, isolating himself for some reason as if by doing so he was sparing them some future pain even it they didn't know the truth of what the Council of the Wise had revealed to Billy. She had watched how he had casually, effortlessly visited all of his friends as if bidding them a farewell they would not hear until it was too late. Only she, Billy and the mentors knew why he was doing this and part of her railed at the injustice of a hope bought at the cost of someone's life. That was why it hurt to see him find a way to touch each one of them one last time and know what it meant to him, yet be unable to speak to tell the others to treasure that last moment. There was so much more certainty involved with him and that made it almost cruel to see the last farewell turned to laughter and deflected in self-defence to a lighter subject.

She paused a moment, vowing not to draw away if it came to that, composing herself for their final meeting. A pang shot through her for all her control and she knew it would not have gone unnoticed by the sensitive Star Ninjetti.

"Come in, Trini," Skye told her mentally as her hand raised to knock on the door.

She walked in silently, seeing him sitting cross-legged on the bed, reading a well-thumbed volume. One she recognised from their journey together in space as a familiar volume of poetry.

"Kim's present to you?" she asked by way of breaking the silence and to compose herself after that momentary slip outside.

The white-haired artist nodded, the star crystal embedded in his forehead glinting as he did so under the strands of hair pulled over it.

"Yes." He smiled at her, knowing a little of why she had come from her emotions radiating despite her efforts at control and small talk. So close to her, her emotions felt practically tangible in their complexity and need.

."Skye, I ..." Trini paused, finding it difficult to translate that mass of emotion into words. It defied description. There were some things words glorified, and others that they demeaned … and this was a time that she felt the latter applied. Sometimes words were not enough, though they were all she had. "I don't know what to say," she admitted finally.

"It's alright, Trini," Skye replied softly, putting the book down with a marker in it as if intending to come back and finish what he was reading. "I can feel what you want to say. Guilt should not be a part of it."

Trini sat beside him, trying to fight that desperate feeling of fear and loss. Guilt, guilt was most definitely a part because of what she would say to him now.

"I don't want to lose you!" she said with a barely restrained intensity and then amended it to a more truthful version.

"Either of you." She looked at him, damning herself for the command she knew he would see there. Once before he took a promise, a command from words said in desperation and she hoped so much that he read the order that was between the lines of what she said aloud. A selfish, desperate order, but …

He saw. He felt the need in her for a life to return to her and the faint wistful smile he gave her in response hurt her more than any righteous rebuff of her implicit command. "I love him too, Trini," he answered in a soft voice.

"Send him back to me, Skye," Trini begged, dark eyes bright with tears as she hated herself for having to choose between them and being willing to ask one to sacrifice for the other. "Promise?"

Skye felt an indefinable sensation within him, a tingle of the Star Crystal in his forehead. "I will do all within my power to protect him … that I promise."

Trini nodded, swallowing painfully as they both stood and she embraced the artist, conveying her affection, compassion, regret, in that touch.

Skye held her tightly and mentally whispered "I love you …" to her, but received nothing but silence and a gentle touch as she pulled away and departed, cursing herself for not being able to lie even now, when she knew he was likely to die. Maybe it was better he hated her for that choice and cared for Billy. Maybe it was easier to believe he hated her than believe he would do this out of love for her …

The door closed again, sealing a bittersweet parting with a soft gentle whisper of noise.

Skye stood a moment alone in the silence of his room once more, the lingering sensation of her touch and scent providing him with a little comfort in his isolation. That was probably the last time he would see her. Ever. This was how unrequited love was repaid, with sacrifice

His eyes lighted on the transcript of the Prophecy he had studied and his mouth twisted in a bitter smile.

"The choice of a divided heart," he murmured and then violently ripped up the transcript of the prophecy and threw it towards the bin before sitting with his head in his hands, tormented by hurt. Hidden anguish burned inside as he succumbed to unheroic thoughts and feelings of wanting to live and destiny be damned, whilst also knowing at the heart of it, a dark, pitiless heart, he had no choice any more. No choices any more. Having a destiny was a cruel slavery, but even true slaves were not expected to rejoice in their slavery and could weep for what they had lost unlike him.

Weapons, after all, did not shed tears.

***

"Why did we have to give the Darkness Visible OUR ultimate weapon?" Rita grumbled for the umpteenth time to Lord Zedd who was pacing up and down in front of Master Vile impatiently.

"You were the one who wanted to get revenge on the Earth," Lord Zedd growled, his staff crackling with energy reflecting his anticipation. "That put us in the hidden fleet … besides, were you going to tell Dark Spectre and the Darkness Visible no?" he added acerbically.

"A little late to object after your 'yes, oh great and powerful Darkness Visible, it would be an honour to be in the other fleet. Your wish is my command'," the witch mimicked spitefully.

Master Vile frowned at them, his deformed visage even more unsightly than usual with disapproval. "You fail to see the advantage, as usual," he remonstrated with the bickering pair. Children … both of them!

"There is an advantage in giving away our most powerful weapon that we have ever created? Something, which we plundered worlds for?" Lord Zedd snapped sarcastically. "Pardon me if I fail to see it leaping out at me."

"That's because you are an idiot," Master Vile replied succinctly. "Firstly, the entirety of the Ninjetti defence is focused on what they believe to be the whole attack force of the Nid-hi. They do not even suspect there is another space fleet lurking half phased. By the time the phase gems burn out under the strain we will be within striking distance of Earth and the Ninjetti unable to stop us."

Rita sulked. "Well, yes, I knew that." She said peevishly in her harsh voice. "Still doesn't seem like much. I'd like to know how that Silver Nid-hi found out how the phase gems worked and the Council of the Wise's little mining operation. I always thought that was only known by the Phantom Ranger. Still ... I still think we've got the raw end of the deal."

"It isn't when you read between the lines," Master Vile said, happily toying with a crackle of energy in his hand, flicking it from finger to finger. "The Darkness Visible is after an object of immense power … and we get to try and find it first. Did you never wonder WHY such a miserable backwater planet was defended so heavily? We who are rulers of major portions of the galaxy always were defeated over a world which we should have been able to tame in less than a standard day? Why Zordon of Eltar, First among the Council of the Wise, was posted there as Guardian? Because there was something worth his guardianship. Something connected to the legends of the Darkness Visible … hmm?"

Rita's mouth dropped open. She was quick enough to make the connection – and mythical artefacts were her speciality, especially powerful artefacts. "The Orb of Order …" she said in a hushed tone. "The Orb is on Earth? And I did not sense it?" If it truly were as powerful as the legends of the Ninjetti described, those that had survived in scattered fragments, then surely she would have noticed it. But the legends said that Ba'rak had concealed it where none would find it, and it was presumed lost.

"Maybe you did in your own way … maybe we all did. What took us there in the beginning?" Lord Zedd mused. "But it would be shielded, hidden. It's not meant to be found, ever … not just hidden for safe-keeping."

"I could find it … I'm sure," Rita said confidently. "Just someone make sure Divatox and Scorpina stay out of this."

"I've got them ready to wreak random chaos on the planet's surface." Master Vile laughed to himself. "We will get this Power ourselves … and then let's see who is in charge!"

***

Ilana knelt before the Darkness Visible who coalesced in his glorious golden Nid-hi form on the bridge of their command vessel.

"They plot against you, my Lord," she murmured. "I sense their traitorous feelings focused towards you. Those who have sworn to your cause and call themselves Allies."

The Darkness Visible, indulging in an aura of subtle golden energy, smiled. "I am aware of this, my Silver Chosen. I would be foolish indeed to assume they followed the cause of Order rather than their own ends. As they intend to use me, so shall they discover I have used them." He dismissed her concerns casually. With the ability that he had to perceive the shape of the darkness within minds it was all too apparent what their intentions were in the long run. "Now it is time for action. Despatch our drone fleet. I wish to test the mettle of our opponents without undue waste of life and maximum damage as they have had little time to prepare since they received some ... faulty data." He chuckled to himself in a light melodic sound.

Ilana bowed her head and stood to make his commands a reality, as was her Duty.

"Study well their reactions, Ilana." The Darkness Visible said to her, his eyes of liquid gold finding her own amethyst gaze. "For I would not wish to lose my Chosen to such creatures of Chaos."

She stared into those compelling eyes for a long moment before he broke their gaze and she stumbled, her heart beating faster than it had ever done in any battle as she went to do his bidding. She would fulfil the desires of her deity not because he commanded her, but because she loved him. Those eyes would haunt her through her dreams and with a bittersweet realisation she discovered there would be none of her own kind, no 'ordinary' Nid-hi that would ever come close to that connection. Until now, she had thought her adoration all one-sided, but that had been concern in his voice, had it not?

Enlivened now with a hope that threatened to set her own heart afire, Ilana strode away purposefully to win this war for her beloved.

Behind her as she departed, the Darkness Visible chuckled. "Nothing more dangerous than a woman in love," he murmured aloud and watched the scintilla of tiny fighters swarm out from the fleet towards the dim distant yellow sun.

***

"How many of the others have done this, do you think?" Billy murmured as he lay with Trini in his arms. Finally. It seemed it had been a long time since they had been together, though in reality it had been a short period made long by being packed full of intense experiences. Trini had decided to make that the model for their stolen time together. The proximity of fear and battle served to heighten that need into a rather intense union, which all too soon had to dissolve as duty called again. But just a few minutes more … a few minutes just talking wouldn't hurt.

"That's a little bit of a personal question," Trini replied, the sound of a smile colouring her voice. "All of them, I should think ... Zack and Aisha have been disappearing at regular intervals. From the smile on Tanya's face I'd say that dark frog Adam has been up to his old tricks … and most of the others have not even been sneaky about it. Following each other around, hand in hand … not even saying much, but …" The Golden Tiger Ninjetti swallowed as she curled in close. "Just … being together."

"Except Skye," Billy murmured as he held her gently.

"He has been to them all, Billy," Trini said. "To say ... goodbye, I think."

The Blue Wolf Ninjetti closed his eyes a moment. "I won't let him die, Trini … not unless there is no other option."

"But I would … I would let him die for what I see is a good cause." Trini's thoughts accused her as she lay silent a moment. Maybe that was the point; maybe that was a part of what she had to do, to choose between them. But if Billy ever knew …

"What's wrong, Trini-love?" Billy asked, concerned at the flicker of pain across her beautiful face.

"I don't want to lose anyone," she said in a low voice, not adding the instinctive 'especially not you'. Billy did not need any more pressure; he was already under too much though he tried to hide it. If it were not for the support of his friends that fragile façade of competent calm would collapse under the strain. What he needed was rest, but there was no time for that now. Tommy, Jason, all of the Master Ninjetti bore the signs of barely hidden exhaustion riding on the edge, knowing that this was the end one way or another.

Billy paused, wanting to reassure her with a lie, but he KNEW the odds did not favour their survival. Even if they won, a statistic as chilling and distant as the heart of a long-dead star in itself, the odds of everyone making it were literally astronomical.

He settled on an ambiguous phrase. "We will do our best to protect each other," he murmured, knowing from the look in Trini's eyes that she could hear the unsaid meaning as if he had spoken mind to mind.

"Live in hope," his wolf spirit replied. "And live in strength of spirit."

"Scarcely a comfort, my friend," Billy answered as he stroked Trini's fine silky hair.

"It is the only comfort we can ever have ... and more powerful than you can imagine, because hope dares the impossible to be real," the wolfspirit mindspoke.

Billy sighed mentally. "There is a time and place for animal-spirit wisdom, you know."

There was an impression of mild amusement. "Yes, every time and every place. It is time to battle." He was warned as the presence faded.

With an internal groan and a last stolen kiss, Billy heard the communicators summon every Ninjetti to prepare for imminent action and paused only to look at Trini so intensely that it seemed he was trying to memorise her face forever. He gave a faint smile and touched her cheek.

"Love you," he managed in an act that took more bravery than facing the conflict to come.

And Trini this time could answer, the truth of her heart freeing her own matching declaration of love, where before a lie would not release them even to comfort a close friend. "Love you, Billy," she murmured and then, in perfect accord without saying any further words to each other, they got up, dressed and prepared to go to war.

***

"Now?" Justin asked again, his finger hovering over the trigger button, practically twitching with the need to press.

"Caution is advised," Cestro warned. "They must be fully within range of the missiles. They have primitive tracking mechanisms only."

"Wait …" Tommy watched the main viewing screen carefully, frowning a little as he assessed the swarming ships dancing in intricate patterns from the massive Nid-hi mother ships. There was something a little odd here, like noticing music was just a tiny little bit out of tune; it tweaked at his attention.

"God, look at the sheer amount of them!" Kat exclaimed, her blue eyes wide with shock. She was not the only one to be affected in that way, practically the entire Ninjetti force were confronting a similar reaction.

Adam found himself wanting to back away from that sight. They did not fight on this scale. They were used to being outnumbered to a certain extent, but not like this! This was not a war, this was a last stand! They were fooling themselves to think otherwise. The fear uncoiled from the pit of his stomach as he watched the horror unravel in the distant void above.

"You know … any moment I expect to see the camera change angle and a DeathStar hove into view," Rocky commented in the rather grim silence that had descended.

"Rocky, that's not funny!" Kim said tersely, not in the mood for humour. Even her usually flippant responses were momentarily stripped from her thoughts. She was suddenly very aware that Tommy would be up there soon, playing decoy, and all her instincts clamoured for her to keep him safe.

"I was being serious," the Red Ape Ninjetti replied in a rather subdued tone.

"Now?" Justin asked again with more force, growing fear making his finger itch with the need to blast those things out of space.

"Wait a moment." Tommy's frown deepened. "The formations are TOO precise."

Delphine nodded, studying the data. "Even the best-drilled teams have a degree of variation in an attack formation. Those strike me as attack drones."

"To soften us up, no doubt." Jason observed from where he stood with Dulcea, who nodded.

"Strategically it is wise. Means you can see how organised the enemy is and how they react, weaknesses in their line," Rocky added as an afterthought, causing a few people to fix him with looks of astonishment. "What? You said I was meant to be in charge of communications and strategy … so I'm communicating and … er, strateg-ing."

"It's a good point." Billy watched the exchange, a hint of a smile hovering around his lips. "Tommy, you think you can get an appropriately 'disorganised' group up there to mop up what the missiles fail to catch?"

Tommy grinned. "I think we can make a convincing case of 'look how weak we are'. I'll just remember my first attempt to control the WhiteTiger Zord. See you out there, guys!" and he touched his communicator and teleported to the prepped and ready White FalconZord.

"Optimum enemy range," Cestro pointed out, nodding at the screen. The drones were passing through the predicted course on a direct route to Earth traversing the channel within launching range of where they had positioned the nuclear missiles.

"Now?!" Justin asked a third and final time.

"Now," they chorused and he stabbed at the button. Immediately targeting information flashed up on various screens, running through the computer and Justin rode and adjusted that information with the ease and confidence of someone who has played one too many computer games.

Silent novae of light blossomed in space, short-lived deadly missile seeds, exploding into atomic fruition in a frenzy of energy, blotting out the enemy craft as if they had never been. Shockwaves could be seen rippling through the drone fleet, ripping formations apart as they watched in breathless silence. Destruction should not be this quiet, it called for roaring, crashing, huge sounds to mark its passing, but there was nothing save the mute explosions of light in the depths of space.

Billy sighed to himself, even the filter-protected images burning bright in his mind. "That's it, we're committed now. Good luck, everyone," he said aloud, turning away from the viewscreen, whilst most of their parents stood agape and mesmerised by the images before them.

It seemed all the more real when they used weapons they could understand the capabilities of, even if they were not cutting-edge technology in this new war. It was the adults who were the most pale and shaken, silently seeking reassurance in each other's expressions as their children continued to work.

"Rocky, you take position in lunar orbit and then activate your full Master Power of communication," Billy reminded as he touched his Spirit crystal to invoke his Spirit Warrior armour. He looked around for Skye. He could feel him here somewhere, the moment the blue diamond Phoenix Glyph appeared on his armour it reached for his friend, imposing that bond. But once again, he was loitering out of sight, his emotions tightly drawn in and stretched tight over a wounded centre. It made him wonder if that was how Skye had first sensed him when they first met. When they were in the WolfZord together they would talk, he promised himself that.

"HomeGuard with me." Jason called out to those who were providing an inner ring of defence for Earth itself, breaking Billy's brief reverie.

"Billy ..." Hank called out, stepping forward as they reached to teleport. The Blue Wolf Ninjetti paused, looking up into his father's eyes and wordlessly joined the proud embrace. Neither one said anything, for fear that somehow words would call forth disaster or tempt fate. They did not need to say anything, everything was in that single moment and as Billy reluctantly pulled away, he realised that other parents had followed his father's example. He just hoped that none of those hugs would be of farewell, daring the impossible to be real. The only one actually ready to leave when he stepped back was Skye, hair a white splash against the dark greys he had chosen to wear, marking him out amongst the dazzling rainbow array of Ninjetti Spirit Warriors. He was ready possibly only because he had no one to bid him farewell, Billy considered, studying him in the light of contrast. Never before had that lack been so poignant, and for that final moment Billy realised that though he had lost his mother, he still had a family in his father, something that he appreciated now like at no other time. Still, this was not time to drift into thoughts however deep and personal; they had to focus on the task ahead.

There was a brief pause as the visages of the Mentors appeared on the screens around them and he heard the traditional benediction over the buzz of his own busy thoughts.

"May the Power protect you!"

And his wolf spirit added silently, in an unusually sombre tone, "And may you protect the Power."

With that rather ringing in his mind, Billy took a deep breath and nodded to Skye. In streaks of blue and white crackles of light, the pair of them teleported to WolfZord and the final Battle.

***

Rocky deftly manoeuvred Red ApeZord into position as on either side of him uncountable Ninjetti Zords streamed out from their adapted lunar base.

"God." Rocky watched them a moment as he manoeuvred into his prearranged orbit. He closed his eyes an instant, smiling at the fact that it was Kat's face that leapt to mind as his focus for calm. He wanted to be out there, fighting, defending her. That was a primal instinct, and had no place in this sort of conflict. They could not afford to play the Warrior, not all of them out for personal glory, or fighting only for themselves. He had done research on this since he had been nominated as the logistics and strategic liaison and he realised the truth in what Billy and Jason had said. Time and time again superior communication and co-ordination had tipped the tide of battle. So … what did he want? He wanted everyone to be able to communicate with the other Ninjetti, he wanted focus points and he needed to be able to see and know what was happening with them at all times. Think of the need and then command the Master Power, the Mentors had said; the rest would take care of itself. He really hoped that was the case, or his Master Power would be no use to anyone.

"Here we go. Master Ninjetti Power Ansur!" Rocky called out aloud and touched the gleaming red glyph on his armour. A shock of Power in his mind sent him metaphorically spinning as contact, like a linking web, spread through the Ninjetti force, bringing speech without effort, and more than speech, mind-presence. All at once! No! He clutched his head and immediately tried to distance himself from it, shrinking away.

"Think of what you do when all the little ones are fighting at home, tune them out ... tune it out so it is still happening, but you are not specifically listening unless you choose to," his apespirit advised him.

"Bloody hell." Rocky panted, sweat on his brow as he got things back under control. He could feel and see the arena of space where the conflict was going to take place, his limits defined by the extent of the farthest-flung Ninjetti. Now he had achieved his link it was like hovering above a massive map and seeing the tiny fighters move.

"Communications up, Radio RedApe Ninjetti on the air!" he announced across the mental link and heard with clarity the response echoing back to him, and to each other as if he actually WAS a satellite – and a totally secure communications point at that, which in a war was a major advantage.

"Good work!" Tommy broadcast, discovering that by willing who the communication should go to defined its range, from public to private. "We are doing a very convincing ragtag mop-up." Indeed, with a carefully controlled, rough-around-the-edges formation they had played an equivalent of inexpert space invaders against the drone ships. One by one they hadtaken out until the swarming force vanished into glittering space débris. Only to be replaced by more attackers, this time showing an indefinable sense of independent minds piloting them.

"First wave of real fighters just being launched. I need our defenders moved up to Jupiter. Squadron 10 through to 20, hold back in reserve to be called in once we test their mettle. Take care out there, guys." Tommy's voice echoed over the entire fleet and the Ninjetti Zords coiled to strike.

***

Ilana watched the readouts on the data being gathered from the token conflict. "Either they are very unprepared, or they are more full of guile than we give them credit for ..." she murmured as she watched the handful of zords scramble around seemingly without coherence or pattern to despatch the drones. The missiles had been a surprise, they would not have penetrated the shields of the main fleet, but against simple drones they were adequate.

Deliberate or not? The data showed most of them had not been designed for space deployment … hmmm …

Getha, a grizzled Nid-hi warrior, his horns lined with numerous shedding-rings that bespoke his age and experience, snorted. "They are creatures of Chaos. One would expect that to be reflected in their battle technique."

"Maybe." Ilana the Silver Nid-hi frowned, remembering the Wolf Ninjetti and the intelligence in his alien eyes. She hesitated to give the order for an all-out assault, but had no other reason than a half-formed feeling.

Getha frowned. "Why do you not give the order?" he questioned impatiently. "The despised Ninjetti are in chaos. Strike now before we lose the advantage!"

"Patience. The hidden fleet is a few hours from position." Ilana raised a hand to placate the warrior.

"In a few hours they will have organised into formations!" Getha gestured to the screen. "I can take them out with my Legion alone!" He did not think it was an idle boast. There were four Legions of the Nid-hi and he had command of what he privately thought of as the most battle- seasoned. "Join me!"

"You know I do not have jurisdiction of your Legion. Lead them if you will. If you are correct I will sing of your Glory to the One myself and you shall be exalted above all others."

"I will hold you to that promise." The grizzled warrior Nid-hi bowed his head to her and strode from the Command Bridge to launch Getha's Legion to glory.

***

WolfZord hovered just outside Earth orbit, in the ranks of the HomeGuard.

"Rocky's Master Power seems to be doing the trick," Skye said, looking across at Billy who was chewing on his lip thoughtfully, studying data analysis.

"Mmm yes …" Billy looked across at him, his thoughts and feelings jumbling together now action had begun. Trini was out there in the front line, as one of the most seasoned Zord fighters and already in the line of fire. "Better than I expected."

"Relax. Trini is fine," Skye reassured, divining part of his friend's anxiety.

"I hate not being able to fight with her," Billy admitted, drumming his fingers anxiously. "And I mean that as not actually with her, but by her side."

"Well, I think with the battle experience she has there is no need to be concerned on her behalf," Skye said carefully, trying not to leak emotions that lingered from his last meeting with Trini.

"Yeah, I know she can take care of herself, but ..." Billy paused, feeling something through that bond that he was unable to identify though he gave Skye a piercing look as he continued. "But I think Phantom may have been right."

The data had been altered, the results had shown that once he had started digging – and there were not many with the expertise to tamper with the database without triggering an alert. That was why he had underestimated the Enemy fleet's arrival time, not through miscalculation, though even so he now berated himself for not spotting the devious alterations beforehand.

"A traitor?" Skye sat up, alert now. Phantom's accusations had proved groundless in their researches, though he knew Billy had privately taken some steps … just in case. The odds were stacked enough against them without having to worry about it coming from the inside too, not now!

"The data on the Darkness Visible's arrival time was tampered with," the Blue Wolf Ninjetti said, having located the nearly invisible computer trail. "I did an in-depth analysis on it because I wanted to see how I could have made such an error, only to discover the original data had been tweaked. " Billy flashed up the result for Skye to check. "Plus of course that line in the Prophecy."

"But who?" The Star Phoenix Ninjetti asked, shaking his head slightly, unable to believe it though now he could see clearly the manipulation of crucial information.

"Realistically? Could be any of the mentors, save perhaps Dulcea. The Darkness Visible had them a long time and managed to extract information out of them," Billy said, shying away from his own memories of a similar procedure, knowing full well that if Skye hadn't had got him out they could have done anything to his mind once it was that broken. It haunted him occasionally that maybe his memories were false of that time and perhaps they HAD done something that would cause him to fail in the crucial moments.

"Who knows what else may have been done? They may not even realise it." He sighed. "We NEED to make sure that the Darkness Visible does not get its hands on the Orb of Order – that's what I should be working on."

"So what do we have to go on?" Skye asked attentively, aware that battle was about to commence.

"Only Dulcea's cryptic clue and the Prophecy. "And it shall be hidden in the place where none shall look, but without it none shall see to seek." Billy practically growled under his breath. "This is one time I could really do without cryptic utterances and just a pointer saying 'over here'!"

"So we solve the puzzle," Skye began, trying to inject a note of optimism into his voice.

"Or circumvent it," Billy finished, emphasising his point by jabbing at the keyboard he had linked to the computer system through Wolf Zord.

"If this thing is as powerful a manipulator of reality as Zordon said, then I should be able to devise a means of tracking concentrations of reality. I might as well … whilst we are not in front line action." The last was said a little bitterly even though it had been his idea to preserve the WolfZord and Skye behind the lines. It made sound tactical sense, but it didn't mean he had to like it.

All this flowed through to Skye who busied himself with implementing some of the instructions that Billy was mentally marshalling for action beneath his worry for his friends and relatives. Including worry for him.

He was human enough still despite the Council of the Wise's assertion he was a weapon, to warm to that emotion and to feel a measure of guilt at being a source of stress to his friend.

"I'm fine Billy, you don't have to worry about me." He tried to reassure in a gap in their working.

Billy looked at him. "I may not be as sensitive to emotion as you are, but you know this ... connection allows me to read you deeper than before. Don't pretend it is nothing, Skye."

"It is ... bearable," Skye said, unable to lie at this level of contact. This was more than talking through the spirit crystals, this was having someone as part of you, strangely discomfiting and painful, but also welcome to the lonely isolated heart that gripped the bond as a lifeline.

"I stand by my promise," Billy reassured him. "I will find a way, if I can."

"And if you can't?" Skye's voice was a murmur, clinging like a small child to Billy's mind.

"Then I promise." God, this was hard. "Then I promise you will be used as the mentors say is your destiny." It caused him pain to utter it, but he realised it had to be said for both their peace of mind. If it did happen and he had not felt the forgiveness and ... more in Skye's mind at this moment, he would not be able to live with his own conscience.

"Thankyou" was said by both at the same time, in recognition for what each other was sacrificing so they could go on and play their part in this war. For once Billy held his friend's gaze a long time and in a rare gesture of voluntary contact touched the artist's hand before silently turning back to his work as if this most private exchange had never occurred.

***

Tommy paused. "Nid-hi ships," he said aloud to himself as the sleek needlecraft slid through space to reach them. A large number, but he did not fool himself by believing they were the full capability of the Enemy fleet, not with the quantity of carrier battle ships his instruments were reporting. Still, maybe after their lightning raids on the homeworlds of the Council of the Wise, resulting in the mentors' abductions, they believed there would not be significant resistance. He intended to prove that assumption wrong. They had few warriors maybe, but they were fighting for their freedom and homes – and they had enhanced Ninjetti Zords and powers. He was hoping THAT would tip the balance, though he had that beginning of a battle headache, from wearing his neck tensed with anxiety and suspense. It was here and now he realised how much he missed having Kim there with him, and yet at the same time was grateful she was not in their front line, but instead on HomeGuard. But now he had to be fully focussed, now that the enemy was coming within range. A familiar keening thrill rose through him as FalconZord seemed to twitch, eager for battle and the old instincts awoke, stirred by adrenalin as he began to relay orders swiftly to all the squadrons of Ninjetti. Like they had when battling monsters back on Earth, it was a matter of scaling the tactics up; attack and peel off, clearing room for others to engage and then disengage as they did their own form of analysis of the enemy's weaknesses.

"Ninjetti Spirit Warriors … Engage Enemy Ships!" he called out through the link, hearing it reverberate through their own fleet and with a whooping battlecry spun White FalconZord against the Nid-hi legion, followed by a legion of his own.

From Rocky's perspective it looked like someone had smashed two mirrors standing opposite one another and the slivers were mingling at the point where someone had set off a brilliant display of fireworks. Rocky blinked, as he became aware of the battle communications flowing through him, all at once.

"Gold Tiger, check your six … Nid-hi comin' in!"

"Check that, Yellow Bear ... thanks, Aisha!" Trini's voice replied.

"No problem ... whoa!"

"Aisha?!"

Rocky's heart seemed to stop.

"Got a little toasted. Heavy duty fire power in the ships with red markings." Aisha's slightly shaken tone was more telling than her words. "Guessing they are squadron leaders or have some rank."

Rocky duly passed this information along to the rest of the Ninjetti fleet. That made him feel a little more useful than just sitting here as messages bounced through him. Gradually he began to get an idea of what the Master Power could actually do. He could see and feel patterns of attack that those fighting could not perceive from their scale and he urgently shouted a warning to one squadron that had been lured out and were being ambushed. "Green Kithar! Red Maronal! Ambush! Slide left! LEFT!"

A series of explosions sounded in his mind and he thumped the console, as there was a sudden hole in his mind where their presence had been. Their first fatalities as the trapped Ninjetti tried to follow his advice … a fraction too late.

"Dammit!" No time for self-recriminations now, he had to make sure that they lost as few as possible.

"Man, but these guys are fast … and slippery." Tommy twisted FalconZord in a barrel roll, coming out of it to swoop down and scatter a cluster of Nid-hi. Subtly though he made it appear, they were giving ground, not too easily but drawing them back towards where the other squadrons lay in ambush. Rocky continually passed on their relative positions and what it actually looked like to him. Technically he could have called the figure up through the FalconZord, but that objective viewpoint was invaluable.

"Just a little more, Tommy," Rocky sounded in his mind. "Reports in from Tanya that there appears to be a gold-tip craft surrounded by a formation of the red tips. I'd wager a week's supply of Jolt that that is their tactical leader. Shri squadron closing in … and …" there was a pause in the commentary and Rocky's voice became angry. "They wiped them out … completely. Made it look easy. Whoever these guys are, they are experienced."

"Who've we got over there in the realm of heavy hitters?" Tommy replied, thinking furiously as FalconZord locked wings forward and caused heavy damage to a formation that was threatening their line from its wing missiles.

"Dulcea's closest. She's been leading the Drakin contingent. Boy, those lizards can kick tail," Rocky commented admiringly as information flooded his mind as he reached for it.

"Get her over there ... if anyone can take out their leader, it will be her," Tommy ordered after a moment's consideration.

There was a moment's surprise. "Right … passing it along … er ..." Rocky hesitated, "You not doing it yourself?"

"Not this time, Rocko," Tommy replied, mildly amused. They were all full of surprises in this unique situation. If Dulcea was the best for the job, then though he dearly would have loved to score that type of victory, he had no business trying. There was something to be said for growing a bit older, including a dawning common sense. "Plenty to go around for everyone. Squadrons 10 to 20, engage Enemy!"

The reinforcements streamed out from their ambush points, overwhelming the flank of the Nid-hi Legion as the fresh troops hit them hard, breaking their formations and scattering them in surprise.

"Wooooohoo!" That was Jason observing from the inner line. "Go get them, Tommy!" He resisted the urge to punch at the air. They COULD beat them! They could!

Dulcea was not sharing that confidence. "This Warrior is good," she murmured as she tackled the gold-tipped fighter. The Drakin Ninjetti around her were dancing their own intricate battles of death. A small localised sphere of chaotic movement blossomed around them all as they sought to dominate the other side, weapons blazing.

The First Warrior of Phaedos had eyes only for the gold-tipped craft, moving with it, against it, learning her opponent's moves and techniques, like knife-fighters circling each other in the dust. But their arena was space, their weapons Zords and they sparred, both of them old pros at this dance of death.

"The Owl watches," she murmured to herself. "And then … strikes!" Like the bird of prey that had claimed her as its own, when she struck against the Nid-hi Warrior it was with sure, silence grace.

Even so, Getha nearly surprised her for all her millennia of experience, by striking at her like a snake in the midst of her devastating attack, piercing OwlZord's hull with simulated fangs.

She resisted the instinct to roll them belly up; knowing somehow that would be the trap laid for the unwary. Instead, she acted as if she were going to and at the last moment swung back, exposing the gold-tipped craft to the awaiting fire. The OwlZord rocked as she felt, sensed, the craft explode next to her and she spun a little dazed out of the circle of combat.

It was just as well that the remaining Nid-hi were so filled with chagrin at the defeat of their Legion leader that they did not take advantage of Dulcea's weakness in those unguarded moments. Indeed, without orders to follow their formations seemed to unravel rather rapidly to the ferocious satisfaction of the Drakin Ninjetti.

Dulcea looked at the spinning debris of defeated foe with a curious emotion of regret. She should have been elated, perhaps counting up points and weighing the glory of her actions, but that all seemed empty. She found there was no joy in defeating even their most long-term hereditary enemy, and to her the taste of her victory was bitter. She found she could have respected her enemy, for his courage, daring and skill.

"And an Enemy that you can respect is worthy of being a friend." She murmured to herself in the old Ninjetti saying as the cheers and congratulations through the link were hollow praise indeed.

***

Hours this first assault had taken and Tommy felt stiff with stress and tension. The enemy appeared to be disheartened, more cautious since the destruction of their field commander by Dulcea. Which was a good thing on one level, but not on another. The White Falcon Master Ninjetti was well aware they had been lucky to get off so lightly, if you could call it that. 1123 Ninjetti had been lost in this first Battle, and nearly double the number taking severe damage. That was an expensive price to pay for the enemy's mistake. He began now to comprehend the scale of things and deep down it frightened him, but he would not let the fear rule him, not now.

"Pull back," he ordered their fleet. "Let's have some skirmishers harassing their fleet whilst we regroup. Billy, you sure the damaged Zords can be fixed quickly?"

"Affirmative." Billy's voice was crystal clear in his mind, though the young genius sounded like he was busily doing something else as well. "The Zeebeedees will have begun repairs the moment they were damaged. A couple of hours and most will be battleworthy again."

"Good." Tommy breathed a sigh of relief. If the drones were the equivalent of a putty attack, then this encounter had the feeling of their first skirmish with a monster. He didn't even want to think about the other equivalents.

He discovered that Rocky had despatched some Ninjetti from the Moonbase to cover their tactical retreat and Tommy couldn't help but wonder if the Nid-hi and the Darkness Visible were going to follow up with a full attack. He looked at his hands shaking a little with fatigue and hoped not.

"Tommy?" Kim's voice whispered in his mind.

"Kim!" It was amazing how revitalising her voice was, some of that tension headache disappearing immediately.

"Shush … think ... private thoughts." Kim's voice teased. "I just want to check you were alright out there, you've been fighting for a long time."

"Fine," Tommy responded automatically.

"Well, the HomeGuard is feeling pretty useless back here," Kim said lightly, if truthfully. "Not that we want to see action this close to home, but ... I want to be helping you, Tommy."

"I'd love to have you up here." Tommy controlled a sigh. "But if they break our line, then there has to be something there to slow them."

Kim chuckled in a way that sent a warm sensation flowing through him and he found himself smiling as he headed back towards Earth and the Moonbase. "We know … doesn't stop me wanting to be with you, though."

"Thankyou, love," Tommy said, his faint smile growing as he imagined Kim hovering protectively in CraneZord over the skies of Earth.

"You think Rocky can transmit kisses?" Kim asked lightly.

"I'm not sure I want to find out if he has to pass them on." Tommy responded, finding optimism return with his good mood. What a difference a few words made – if they were from the right person even if it was the wrong time and place.

Kim's laughter at that swept away his troubles even as the battle reports came in again, interrupting these precious moments.

***

Back in the Power Chamber there were more than one set of parents sitting down, looking slightly shaky at what they had witnessed. Time had seemed like an unending stream of explosions and reports, data that could mean life or death for their children flashing across screens. Around them the Mentors had been co-ordinating and advising, providing their knowledge in swift assessments of the ever-changing situation. As the death toll rose however, the strain became more apparent and more than one parent was looking haggard and drawn with reaction.

"I … I can't believe it." Tommy's mother sat down heavily. "It's not real. Not real."

Her husband sat with her, a comforting arm around her shoulder. "Now Mary, it's going to be fine. Trust me ... Tommy can take care of himself, you saw the way he handled himself up there." His expression and tone were of someone trying to convince themselves as much as someone else.

"But what about the time when he NEARLY got ... blown up by all those … horrible ... black … crafts and ..." Mary Oliver paused, swallowing down the note of hysteria even SHE could hear creeping into her voice. "John, I can't stand the thought of him up there ... I can't!"

"And to think we were disappointed when he didn't want to join the military, hmm?" John soothed his wife gently.

"That ... that is completely different," Mary replied, wisps of dark brown hair escaping the clips she used to tie back her long locks.

Sam and David looked on. "I know how she feels," David said quietly. "I want to be up there helping too … somehow."

"You would not be alone in that desire," Sam Trueheart commented. "That is a wish written on the faces of all who are here."

Very clearly written. Heads were turned, fixed on the monitors as if watching the images would somehow provide a link of safety. Even now with the first wave of the battle fading, there were those who stood and watched diligently. The Taylors and Mr Stewart were clustered in one area with the Kwans, the Harts were not far from the Scotts and Hank Cranston. It was a strange thing, but they clustered in links to each other as their children had done.

"Do you think they can do it?" David asked in a hushed voice.

Sam smiled. "As if I have some knowledge you do not?" He sighed. "If love has any place in war, or strength against destruction, then they have a chance – if only from those that worry on their behalf."

David paused, considering this answer thoughtfully. "You really don't know, do you?" he said eventually.

Sam Trueheart smiled and laughed, a strange sound in the tense atmosphere. "And now, son, you have perceived the truth at the heart of things." An utterance that got the chuckling response it deserved.

***

Ilana sighed and reported to the One. "Chosen Getha has perished along with most of his Legion. He underestimated the Enemy and believed he could break the accursed Ninjetti alone." She bowed her head in mute apology for her now dead compatriot's foolishness.

"And has paid the price." The Darkness Visible replied, seemingly unperturbed. "I would not punish you for another's error, my Chosen. Patience is called for. We have spent millennia reaching towards this day; we can wait a few more hours until Dark Spectre's fleet is in position."

"Very wise, my Lord." Ilana agreed in her soft melodic voice.

The Nid-hi shape the Darkness Visible adopted blurred around the edges, particles streaming away as if stirred by a mighty force. She had seen the Darkness Visible do this before, dropping back into a state of energy and thought mingled, however this time she was to be surprised.

To her shock the Darkness Visible shifted forms to … a human form. A human form as if imagined by a god, masculine, but angelically perfect, and gleaming with an aura of power.

"In the meantime, let us try another form of warfare that will further our purpose," a smooth, compelling voice stated.

Ilana stared. This must be the human equivalent of the One's Nid-hi form. She could appreciate its beauty. What did he intend?

"Route power into a wide-band communication array. I believe the inhabitants of Earth should have a choice in whether they side with the Forces of Chaos or with the righteous cause of the Forces of Order." And the perfect human form, born of the deep unconscious images taken from the minds of the humans he had met and touched with his power, stood to address the inhabitants of Earth.

***

"Dammit, the Nid-hi are directing a beam at Earth! A communications carrier wave!" Justin cursed, hands flickering over the console in the Power Chamber.

"Can you block it?" Cestro asked, trying to compensate for the alterations himself with little success.

"No ... it's … modulating as it goes." Justin stared in surprise at his readouts. "How can they DO that?"

"It is imperative that you prevent the Darkness Visible from making contact," Zordon's voice boomed. "Who knows what havoc it could wreak?"

"It's adapting itself to all forms of communication devices," Cestro observed again calmly. "It appears we were wise to utilise Rocky's abilities rather than conventional methods."

Even to their communications devices the transmission adapted, for up on the screen the shape of an angel made flesh appeared. A human form that spoke deep inside to archetypes of the real thing, crying out to the human subconscious that it was a creature of Good. For all their efforts they could not stop that signal or the transmission going ahead.

"Citizens of Earth. I am a visitor from far beyond this Galaxy, come in search of the worthy Guardians of a most sacred object of our people, lost in a terrible war many aeons ago." His voice was gentle, understanding and soothing. "Those guardians are you, the people of Earth, a most favoured planet and I ask you with all respect to seek out this simple object …" an image of a faintly glowing sphere appeared. "And return it to us, its rightful owners. Of course we of the Nid-hi would recompense you for your faithful guardianship, with gifts and wonders of the galaxy, technology to heal your sick, to feed your hungry and open your pathways to join us as Allies in the stars."

"My god, but he's convincing," Adam's father murmured as he watched the broadcast. "Devious."

The apparition of the Darkness Visible took on a faintly regretful look. "We would collect the item ourselves, but those who have kept its secret from you all this time, your own leaders and a group of zealous fanatics, wish to keep this object for themselves. They, as we speak, hurl themselves in violence against our peaceful race, slaughtering our advancing ships without mercy."

Images of the drone fleet bombed into obliteration filled the screen and Hank paled as he watched, realising how much like slaughter that appeared when taken out of context.

Then once more the wise, sorrowful expression of the Darkness Visible. "We do not blame them … they have been misled, and they are only young and easily swayed. I believe many of them are barely twenty of your years in age."

"Dear God." Jason's father stared as images of the human Ninjetti flashed up in the transmission, complete with them unmasked, looking innocent and young, as their parents believed in their hearts that they actually were.

"We have no wish to harm them, but we do have the right to defend ourselves, and we cannot leave without this object most sacred to our people, as valuable to us as your own True Cross, your sacred Qua'balah Black Stone, all that you hold as being holy and a part of what makes you a people. Let us exchange gifts at our first meeting, not aggressive blows … People of Earth, help us, please!"

And the image faded, leaving a breathless silence.

"Oh, but he was GOOD," Kat's father said, shaking his head. "If he were running for office, there would be a landslide and the opposition would vote for him, too."

"But what is he trying to do?" Kim's mother questioned aloud.

"Propaganda, pure and simple," Mr Scott said sourly. "Stinks of it. Turn your own side against you and the enemy is half-defeated. I bet half of you are sitting there, asking yourself private questions despite all our kids have told us ... hmm?"

There were a few sheepish murmurs of agreement.

"It's not that I don't believe them, but ... I know Kim, she sees things in black or white and if she feels it is wrong, then she fights," her father said. "She may not have considered that there is another option. A compromise, maybe."

Hank sighed. "I've been in this longer than any of the rest of you and … they are not wrong. Do you think any of them WANT to be doing this? Risking their lives? Ninjetti DIED out there today, and you all clearly saw it was the Nid-hi that launched both attacks ... propaganda …" He shook his head. "Is it so bad to see through the eyes of the young, to divide the world into right and wrong? It is fear that makes us seek a way to deal with the devil ... for that's what he is, or as near to it as I ever want to see!"

His forceful words seemed to break the web of words that had been spun around them.

"Nevertheless, there's a planet full of people who don't have our insight, Hank," Anna Hart said aloud.

"Let's not give the kids any reason to doubt that we are behind them. Things are tough enough as it is," Lillian DeSantos said, nodding in agreement with her own point. "And if anyone wants to argue … I'll put them straight." She glowered.

Adam's mother whispered an aside to her husband. "God help the world." And he managed to contain an irreverent smile as he turned back to his assigned task.

***

The Darkness Visible laughed as it ceased the transmission. "Chaos from within. A suitable irony." He chuckled as if he had just played a rich joke. "It should occupy them and distract them whilst the phased fleet moves into position."

"Yes, Lord. When do you wish the main assault to begin?" Ilana asked humbly.

"Just before the phase gems burn out and our esteemed Allies sweep down on the Earth and show my words false," the Darkness Visible said lightheartedly in rare good humour.

"False, Lord?" Ilana raised her head, not quite believing this.

"Only if they have not delivered my Orb to me within that time. They have their opportunity for salvation. I named them guardian, but a guardian that will not relinquish the property of their master is renamed thief," the Darkness Visible replied glibly.

"Of course, Lord," Ilana murmured, her eyes clouded with a momentary doubt. "I will prepare the remaining Legions to end this war swiftly and they will not threaten you with this Ninjetti weapon of theirs."

"I have no fear of their weapon," the Darkness Visible responded. "He has no soul of warrior-fire. I touched his mind and he is but a scared youngling, tormented by the Spirits to their purpose. There is little danger there."

"This is good, my Lord," Ilana said mechanically. "Then our triumph comes soon."

"Indeed, my Chosen, indeed."

***

Tommy stormed out of White FalconZord on Moonbase in a foul mood. "Rocky, don't those blasted Ronani know the MEANING of the word skirmish? I specifically said no actual engagement! They've lost half their number needlessly!"

Rocky, still floating in orbit, sounded worried. "Well ... they seemed to understand when I told them, but ..."

"Either they understand orders or they don't!" Tommy muttered, angry at the wasted life, as he took a quick break whilst his Zord repaired and re-energised in the landing berths. He grabbed a quick bite of energy food and drink and ate on the run … stuffing his mouth full and forgetting to chew as he made it into one of the rec rooms that was showing the broadcast from The Darkness Visible again.

"Geeeeeezus." He swallowed what he had been munching and stared as the human reporter appeared.

"Everywhere on Earth received this information in the last half hour, translated into their own languages. The images displayed have been identified as inhabitants of Angel Grove in the main who have one thing in common. They were all present there when the phenomenon of the Power Rangers was at its peak." The reporter paused for emphasis. "Even more surprising is that representatives of the White House claim that the President is aware of the situation and is currently re-evaluating his information. This, coupled with the fact that stories are coming in all over the country of mysterious disappearances of nuclear missiles, lends credence to the fact this broadcast is not a hoax. If we accept it as genuine, then it becomes a decision as to whether we trust its content …"

The reporter continued as Tommy stared at the screen, momentarily stunned.

"Did you all get that?" He instinctively reached out to his most familiar teammates.

"Loud and clear," Jason said disconsolately.

"It's psychological warfare," Zack chipped in. "Don't start doubting, man."

"I'm not doubting, but …" Tommy paused. It was going to be hard enough doing this without thinking that they might have to go against their own side, too. It would be difficult to see how people on Earth might NOT have doubts after that!

"When this is done ..." Adam's calm voice interceded, "then we can sort it out. It all becomes irrelevant otherwise."

"Would be nice to have the support, though." Tanya sighed, hating the thought of this discordant note in their own side.

"We are Power Rangers." Billy's voice spoke up suddenly, reaching all of them. "We are USED to working alone, with only each other standing between life and death. It is just a bigger scale …" His sigh was audible and the wistful note was not lost on the others. "We know what we are doing is right."

"Do we?" Kat asked softly, but Rocky's link made sure everyone heard it. "Would giving him the Orb stop the war?"

There was a silence over the Ninjetti link.

"Yes." Billy replied slowly, seemingly the only one who could answer that question. "But only in that then he would have the power to destroy us with a mere effort of will. There would be no war because there would be no Ninjetti, no Earth … no forces of good to oppose him." The most chilling thing was the statement that could so easily have been melodramatic was presented in cold, matter-of-fact terms.

"I think that answers our question." Trini's voice came in from out of the cold depths of space where TigerZord prowled, testing the boundaries of their secured territory. "If anything we know and love is going to survive, we have to fight for it."

Agreement sounded from all of them and Tommy sighed. "Thanks guys," he replied quietly. "We won't let that happen. We CAN'T let that happen."

"I don't understand why they are taking this breather," Jason said, airing a concern that was niggling at him. "A mysterious gap in proceedings usually meant they … well, Rita and Zedd at least, were up to something that would get us later. Billy, any ideas?"

"Skye and I have been working on locating this object, the Orb," the Blue Wolf Ninjetti supplied. "If we can locate it and get it AWAY from Earth, The Darkness Visible and the Nid-hi might follow."

Tommy found himself nodding, though he knew no one could actually see the gesture. "Good call. Any luck?"

"We're building a device that will detect reality fluctuations ... or more precisely we are trying to," Billy reported, pausing to suck at his fingers as he singed them on a soldering tool. "I am afraid this has left us little time for other speculation."

"We'll just have to do this on the fly." Kim sounded determined. "Most of us haven't used their Master Power either … that should help."

"Well, save it for when things are really bad," Tommy replied with a sigh. "I can't help thinking we used the others too soon."

They tried not to think about that. The space-slicing ability of Vy-Ru may have been able to get their Allies' fleet there in a moment. But … they were gone, sacrificed so early in their campaign.

"Well, anyone who has any idea let me know?" Tommy said again. "I have to get back out there."

"As do all of us." Aisha responded as she waited for her Zeebeedees to finish repairing the damage she took earlier. "Green light … and I'm out of here!" she broadcast.

"See you up there, Aish." Adam said and there were a few significant pauses that Rocky knew to be private exchanges between the various couples, just reaffirming their links with each other whilst they still could.

***

"Master Vile to Dark Spectre. The phase gems are within an hour of failing, tighten up formation." Rita's father ordered curtly from his phased battle cruiser.

"Tighten up formation? Why that jumped-up …" Dark Spectre rumbled, and his lava lines glowed brilliantly with annoyance. "I am in charge of the destruction of Earth!" he reminded the other space villain.

Master Vile sneered, relishing a moment of technical superiority. "And I am in charge of the deployment of the phased fleet. As you may have noticed, you are a part of that fleet at the moment."

"You are ESCORTING our attack force and providing cover for us!" Dark Spectre retorted.

"Which we find hard to do when you are straggling," Master Vile said with a hint of smugness.

"Very well. Dark Spectre out." The magma lord cut the connection. "The AUDACITY of the creature!"

"My Lord?" Divatox looked at him askance, wondering if maybe she should think about cosying up to Master Vile a little, and whether she could do it without Dark Spectre knowing.

"Remind me to pay him back for his insolence … slowly." Dark Spectre was NOT impressed by the impertinence. "He seeks favour with the Darkness Visible for his own ends. He must feel confident that he has the upper hand if he dares behave in such a way. I wonder … hmmm." The one-time OverLord of all Evil in the galaxy pondered. "I wonder if he believes he can find ... It."

"'It', Lord?" Divatox asked, confused. "I thought we were to lay waste to earth to demoralise our enemies and possibly even force them to stop their defence."

"It's a wonder you've survived this long." Dark Spectre's voice was scathing. "That is … at best a bonus. Did you not see the broadcast of the Darkness Visible?"

The purple-haired space pirate frowned. "But that was mere … foolery to con the naive inhabitants of Earth!" She looked at his glowing eyes and frowned. "Wasn't it?"

"As the humans say, 'Many a true word spoken in jest'." His presence seemed to swell with brooding power. "The Orb is there ... the Earth is nothing, meaningless. So it may affect our enemies … the war is academic, anyway. We have them outclassed. Sooner or later they will fall. Divatox, you must spread your toxic chemical warfare as soon as possible when we reach there and try and extort the answer from one of their leaders." It did not even occur to him that they might not know.

Power sought Power and he knew now why his brother Maligore had become so obsessed with this place. "I misjudged you, brother," Dark Spectre murmured to himself. "Thought you weak for turning your back on conquest and thinking you turned away from the joys of Power to shame me. Instead, your hunger was great enough to draw you after the ultimate prize."

Divatox listened closely, though the words were obviously private. Who would know what would be useful? "I will do as you command, Dark Spectre."

"Yes." The Dark Lord roused himself from his reverie. "I'm sure you will."

***

"This picture looks wrong." Rocky shook his head as he strove to work out what exactly was wrong from his mental perception of the killing grounds.

On the surface it appeared standard. The Enemy was there and moving towards them here. They clashed head-on in the middle. End of story.

"Which is ridiculous." Rocky frowned again. Jason was right, this pause was most definitely not normal. According to his reading, an opponent used a lull in a conflict to do one of a few things. Lick its wounds. Prepare a counter attack, or wait for a prearranged strategy to manifest.

"Not going to be the first," he said to himself, having already assessed that the Legion of Nid-hi they had destroyed had not been a large portion of their fighting force from the sheer amount of 'motherships' they had. "One of the last two." What if it was a prearranged strategy? That was the most dangerous. Is the Darkness Visible arrogant enough to believe it could destroy them head on? Maybe, possibly. As yet there have been no flanking attempts. Why? The thoughts whirled around, chasing elusive answers that slid like shadows from his grasp.

His apespirit rumbled. "Danger in the forest comes from all around, above and below," it commented and Rocky paused, experiencing a cold dawning fear. He was being encouraged to look at this battle as if it was linear, as if it was taking place on Earth. This was space! It was only habit that had them fighting on a horizontal plane! For crying out loud, why hadn't they noticed this before?

Alarmed, Rocky started combing the area of space around Earth in a spherical fashion, searching for anomalies in the sensors. It was such an alien concept, but then Rocky considered how little experience they had with fighting in space and realised that it wasn't natural to alert to … predators from ALL spatial points. Though in reality it came through into his brain as 'weird and unnatural'.

"Dammit!" Rocky swore. He felt an uneasy flicker and had nothing to justify his feeling, however hard he looked. Still … would it harm to bring Adam, Aisha and Kat over towards this sector from their HomeGuard? He instinctively chose those he knew and trusted for longer than others. His oldest friends and his love … just in case.

There. A flicker in space, from his position diagonally beneath the Earth. But just as he was trying to focus his attention, the frontline sensors went ballistic and Nid-hi Legions streamed out of the Armada motherships in uncountable numbers, demanding his immediate attention.

"Second WAVE. It's the big one, everyone!" Rocky alerted them, scrambling the Ninjetti squadrons. "Move, people, move!" he encouraged urgently as he watched them pour once more into space.

"You heard him … Tanya, you think you can keep sending out megazord patterns like you worked out with Billy?" Tommy said through the Ninjetti link, referring to a hasty discussion they had had on boosting their basic firepower over an energy pack meal. Jason had mentioned that it was a shame there were no megazords, and Billy had replied that there was no reason the Zords could not link, it was merely the combinations and compatibility that would take more time to calculate through the computer than would be effective in battle. Or as Zack put it, "A Ninjetti Megazord would be coming together as a MegaSitting DuckZord."

That was, until Tanya had mentioned she had no difficulty in telling exactly which Zords could go where, an ability that seemed linked to her Master Power of Unity. That had resulted in a flurry of excitement and activity and a possibly new weapons resource for them all.

"No problem," she responded calmly. Being the unseen connection was somewhat satisfying and it would protect them. Tanya focused sternly, finding that the shapes danced in her mind naturally, like elaborate jigsaw pieces, turning shapes around visually so they would knit together. If this was one of the lesser functions of her Master Power, she began to wonder what her full power might be able to accomplish.

"Great. Concentrate on that rather than frontline action," Tommy said in his 'tense leader commanding' tone. He had also made another decision on the advice of Zordon.

"Dulcea, I can't risk the Darkness Visible getting hold of you. Drop back to HomeGuard and ask Jason to release someone to take your place."

"White Falcon ... I could make stealth strikes. OwlZord is completely cloaked by my Master Power of Silence," the Master Warrior of the Ninjetti protested automatically. She was the most experienced! Being relegated …

"If the opportunity arises." Tommy was firm in his response. "Now I need to bolster Earth defence. There are too many coming at us that we will actually be able to STOP them in space. Not like we have a barrier or anything, and you are one of the Council of the Wise after all."

"Agreed." Dulcea sighed and OwlZord sped back to join Jason on the Home Guard Line, hating even the appearance of fleeing from her racial enemy despite her previous doubts.

Rocky, his mind whirling with battle information, tried to surface long enough to check out that flicker. Practically having to wrench his mind from the Frontline action, he tuned his attention to those other sensors and was therefore the only one watching that area of space when ...

"Phase Gem failure ... in … three … two … one … Burnout!" Divatox announced triumphantly.

"Good," Dark Spectre rumbled. "Let us take our fleet to Earth. Master Vile … carry out your mission of securing the planetary zone."

"Yes, Dark Spectre." Master Vile acknowledged grudgingly, cutting communication as they began to split off, a devastating fleet that appeared out of nowhere.

Rocky now knew what it felt like to have a heart attack … or as close to it as made no difference. "Jeeezus!" His chest and lungs had literally frozen in shock as an entire fleet shimmered into existence before his eyes. His ApeZord computer was not helping either.

"Scanning … craft identified ... Divatox Space-sub … scanning, craft identified Quantron fleet. Scanning, craft identified Dark Spectre flagship. Scanning, craft identified, Zedd warships … scanning, craft identified Vile destroyers ..."

"Shut up, shut up!" Rocky desperately did NOT want to hear this.

"Mute activated." The computer monologue ceased, but the warnings flashed up as the computer matched the fighter configurations one after another. Scorpion fighters, even Machine Empire cogs and battle drones – all made up that fleet. The United Alliance of Evil in all its dark glory, uneasily combined and co-operating at least temporarily for this one time, targeting them and Earth specifically.

*This is no time to go to pieces. Strategy … strategy …* Rocky sounded the warning.

"HomeGuard! Alert! We have a fleet appearing out of phased space. All our old friends are joining the party!"

"Shit!" Jason was nothing if not eloquent. "What the hell are we going to do? We have our hands full backing up the frontline!"

The HomeGuard had moved into action, thin on numbers but heavy on firepower as the squadrons evaded the frontline defence.

"Their fleet is splitting into two – one section moving to Earth and the other coming round to catch Frontline on the flank," Rocky warned.

Billy's voice spoke up over the link. "We NEED the Allies' fleet … otherwise we've had it."

"It's still a few star systems away … not due to arrive even at top speed for another couple of hours," Rocky explained, monitoring their transmissions as well as the battle.

"We need them here faster!" Jason said forcefully

"If running needs to be done, and in speed is life, a cheetah understands that most of all," Kat's Cheetahspirit reminded her.

"Faster … that's my department," Kat blurted out across the link.

"Your Master Power?" Billy said, suddenly remembering. "You think you can accelerate the Allies' FLEET?"

"I'll have to," Kat said firmly. "It's what HAS to be done."

"Kat, it's too much!" Rocky said, suddenly terrified she would overextend herself. They had been warned that pushing beyond the limits of their Power might result in collapse, or worse.

"Rocky … look at the readouts ... it has to be worth a try!" Kat said, determined now. Did they really have a choice?

He couldn't deny that. With each passing moment the situation deteriorated, and if there was any hope, however small, they must try it.

Jason made the decision immediately, having reached that conclusion already and came up with some sort of plan to try and buy the time necessary.

"Right … Adam, Aisha, you are closest. Intercept and try and delay the flanking part of their fleet as best you can – keep them off of Tommy and our main forces, or they will be crushed against the Nid-hi battle cruisers. Kat, you try and get the allies here as fast as possible." Jason snapped out crisp orders one after another. "Zack, Dulcea, Delphine, we'll try and intercept the warships entering Earth atmosphere. Billy, Skye, Kim and Rocky, keep Moonbase and Rocky's position clear; and Rocky … tell the Power Chamber to alert the governments that an attack is in progress – now they can see how the Darkness Visible lies. Let's move it, people!"

Obediently they scattered, clearing an area for Kat to make her dash for help.

"You're clear, Kat," Rocky said across the link and then added privately, "Take care, love."

"I will, Rocky." The Pink Cheetah Ninjetti smiled to herself at the concern in his voice. "I'll be back soon." And she had no qualms at all about blowing him a mental kiss before turning to her task.

Kat pressed her hand to the Master glyph and felt it pulse beneath her hand, a throbbing synchronised with her heartbeat. In her mind her Cheetah spirit circled, the fluidity of its movement hypnotising her. The Master Ninjetti Power lay coiled within her … like the tensed muscles of a cheetah about to sprint. She had to get there and had to get them back, all of them back here to face the fleet just come out of phase. Adam and Aisha would not be able to hold them long. She COULD do it ... she COULD!

"Master Ninjetti Power Maraz! Hopespeed!" A burst of light enveloped her Zord, time itself seeming to slow as she sped up. Responding to her desire and will, the Pink CheetahZord blurred and streaked out of their solar system, towards the distant Allies' fleet.

***

Two against a fleet of practically everyone they had ever fought in the past. They'd managed them one at a time, but all together?

"This is not going to be easy, Aish," Adam murmured through the link, looking at the terrifying odds in front of them, trying to find a point of balance within himself.

"You kidding?" Aisha replied in a tight voice. "Piece of cake … well, a cake made of titanium, with a filling of diamond-encrusted gelignite and plastic explosive topping."

Adam gave a slight smile to himself. "You'll make me hungry."

"Kinda the idea," Aisha sent back, her hands abnormally tight on the controls. "I suppose a plan is out of the question?"

"Well, since you ask so nicely." The Black frog Ninjetti had been thinking furiously. "They unphased a fleet out of nowhere … how about we try the same?"

"Say what?"Aisha replied, wondering if Adam had lost it.

"My Master Power … illusion. I believe I can create the illusion of a fleet out here. I may make them cautious enough to hold off sweeping in on Tommy and the others from behind." Adam tried to sound confident. "Especially if you and I provide real fire amongst the fake."

"Won't their sensors indicate there's nothing there?" Aisha asked, hating to pick holes, but it would be a pretty pointless effort if the enemy sensors could see through an illusion.

"It will be a complete illusion," Adam responded. He would have to provide both the appearance of weaponry, and the appearance to the enemy fleet that their sensor readouts were indeed measuring heavy weaponry.

"Considering we are nearly on them and this is the only plan we have … I say ... go for it, Adam." The Yellow Bear Ninjetti nodded, committing herself to support his idea.

Adam stared at the advancing fleet and closed his mind, dropping back into the void where he had contacted his Frog Spirit once more. Not emptiness … but potential. Potential to create from thought itself.

"Master Power Shas," he said quietly, touching the gleaming jet glyph on the front of his spirit warrior armour. A shift … a blurring of the edges of perception, and painstakingly he created their own fictional phased fleet. Bright and clear in his mind. Sharp and real. *David Copperfield, eat your heart out!* He was going to make an entire space fleet … appear..

With an exhalation of immense effort from Adam, the Master-Powered illusion shimmered into view as if uncloaking from phase space.

"Dark Spirits of the Void!" Dark Spectre stood suddenly as a fleet materialised between them and their objective. "Sensor reports?"

The consoles shimmered imperceptibly. "Sensors read them, my lord," a hapless console worker reported, receiving a cuff for his part in bringing bad news to the dark lord.

"How by all that's Evil did they manage to bring a fleet here?" Divatox said, her mouth agape as she took in the details of the opposing fleet.

"We managed it," the Magma Lord said darkly.

Well, that was true. It took a while for the shock to sink in as Dark Spectre slowed their progress to a third, his attacking fleet creeping in more cautiously towards the Frontline Ninjetti. He frowned disbelievingly, not willing to accept the evidence of his own eyes and the fact they may have been outsmarted.

"Fire a salvo of your torpedoes, Divatox, at the central formation," he ordered.

The purple-haired pirate transported herself to her space sub, a smirk on her lips. "Fire torpedoes … let's sting 'em a little!" she gloated, glad to be in action at last.

"Incoming!" Rocky warned his two longtime friends, but getting no response. "Adam … Adam?"

"Don't distract him," Aisha replied urgently. "I have no idea how he is maintaining so many variables at once … and I don't want to throw him."

Adam was trembling with strain, needing the illusion to hold, needing it to protect his friends, to save his family, MAKING it work by sheer strength of will.

"I'm … okay," he said through the link. "Aisha, take out the torpedoes; I'll make it look convincing."

The Black Frog Ninjetti felt like he was wilting under such a vast influx of information, constantly trying to escape him, like an elusive dream image wavering on the edge of consciousness. Still, he rallied as Aisha obeyed, making it appear as if defenders in the fleet had intercepted the torpedoes and exploded them, and for authenticity that one of them damaged a ship.

"Predators look more closely at wounded prey," his frogspirit commented silently.

*That is the idea. They will not notice when I lose the periphery … I can't hold on much longer,* Adam replied, feeling things starting to unravel and desperately trying to distract their opponent with what appeared to be an aggressive move by a phalanx of illusionary ships. In reality it was Aisha, cloaked by a weaving of his imagination.

"Dark Spectre … they are attacking!" Divatox informed him. "And …" the Space sub rolled under a very substantial impact, sending alarms blaring. "Their firepower is real enough! I've taken a hit."

"Peel off and go and keep an eye on Vile, Zedd and Rita," Dark Spectre instructed. "I doubt Earth will have anything that will trouble your shields even at half strength."

"As you command, Lord." Divatox smiled behind her half mask. Well well, looked like she had managed to worm her way into Dark Spectre's confidence after all. Good. She obeyed as Dark Spectre's forces cautiously started to inch forward through space, looking to close in and crush Tommy's Ninjetti offensive from a flanking position.

Dark Spectre studied the screen, not entirely convinced for all of the reported actual damage. After all, there was very little of it, less than you would expect. Either they were really bad shots … or something was definitely awry. His eyes gleamed lava-red bright and hot as fresh blood as he ordered, "Check for phase gem residual emission."

That was what was missing. His command of earth and fire should have had the presence of phase gems fizzing and bubbling in his awareness, much like those in his own fleet had done.

"None detected, my Lord," an ensign reported.

A flare of magma light as DarkSpectre paused for thought, and then gave his nearest equivalent to a smile as he noticed a barely perceptible flicker to the ships on the edges of their opposition. "Isn't that interesting. All forces! Attack speed. This fleet is illusion!"

"Sire?" chimed in a voice incredulously.

"Do not argue." The simple phrase alluded indirectly to the fate of those who had argued, albeit very briefly. "Carry out my orders."

Slowly Dark Spectre's forces began to accelerate implacably towards the illusionary defenders.

***

"Madre de Dios …" Rocky muttered under his breath. "Adam, Aisha, you've been rumbled. They are coming right at you. Bug out!"

Adam's head was swimming and dizzily he tried to cope with the splitting headache that was pounding on his optic nerves. It crept into peculiar sparkling lights that ate away at his vision and drained all strength from his body, filling his sight with bright sharp pain.

"I… can't … hold ..." His head dropped forward to rest on the console as the last vestiges of the Master Power flickered and dispersed with his consciousness.

The gleaming illusory fleet shimmered like the elusive thread of a dream slipping through the fingers of memory and vanished, exposing the battling Ninjetti to potential devastation.

"Tommy! Watch your six! " Rocky yelled as the apparent defence vanished, leaving the Frontline wide open to attack and the pair of Ninjetti spirit warriors terribly exposed between the opposing forces. "Aisha… get out of there!"

"I'm trying to raise Adam," the Yellow Bear Ninjetti snapped back. "Adam? Adam … get your lazy butt out of the way of the fleet … Adam?! Dammit!" Aisha hit her console in frustration.

"Aisha, move!" Rocky pleaded.

There was a silence. A silence filled with a lifetime of memories, of a childhood where the three of them lived from each other's houses, of sharing a first kiss with Adam as the petals fell on the spring breeze. He wasn't just a friend. He was a best friend. It had been a pain that she had never thought she would get over to realise she would have faded from their memories whereas she held those treasured moments clear and bright inside for all of them. Then there had been joy as they remembered … bit by bit. She was not going to lose that again. There were many ways to love, and one of the truest paths of a warrior of the heart was to never give up on a friend.

Her hand reached towards her glyph, realising she had to stop the fleet. It was her nature to fight; it was her nature to battle, to attack to defend so she would be true to her nature as Nin-jor had described.

"Master Power Thornaz!" she practically shouted as a battle cry, and around the Yellow Bear Zord an immense flickering raging form roared and charged the entire fleet, oblivious to opposition, damage or vulnerability.

Rocky watched in horror. "Tommy, Aisha's gone after Dark Spectre. Adam's disabled, by the looks of it."

"Rocky, we can't break off … the Nid-hi are all over us!" Tommy yelled back, their forces under immense pressure. Whoever was commanding this assault was a Master themselves. Even that moment's distraction was nearly too much. "Whoa!" He barrel-rolled out of a circle of deadly explosive blooms.

"I'll go after them!" Rocky said desperately, trying not to SEE them in his mind so clearly as tiny specks about to be crushed.

"No ... hold position! Hold position! We lose you, the whole thing collapses!" Tommy raised his voice, truly worried now.

*I hate this … I hate this …* Rocky repeated over and over to himself, locked into position while his friends were in trouble.

If anyone had seen Aisha then, they would have been terrified. It was somehow profoundly disturbing to see the full primal ferocity of a predator unleashed in a human who smiled, talked, shopped, went to school and studied. Eyes that usually held nothing but compassion and caring were devoured by rage – an incandescent rage that ate away her humanity. Reduced to the essentials, she was blindingly quick and ferocious and came right at the fleet, unpredictable and deadly.

"Laughable." Dark Spectre shook his head. "Fire long-range missiles. I don't want a ship to slow us down."

The missiles were fired, locked on target, exploding in plasma burst of actinic light, and yet the Zord still kept coming.

Dark Spectre frowned. Strange. "Lock main plasma guns and fire!" he ordered, raising his rough voice.

It should have been enough to destroy a moon, and yet, from out of the roiling furious energy, the Zord kept coming.

***

Kat had braked, the Power of Hopespeed still thrumming through her body, slipping into the Cheetah Zord to be unleashed at her command. It had been a phenomenal experience, a rush of speed so intense that it seemed she had danced through stars and space, and nothing could stop her. It seemed no time at all before she had seen her target, and willed the headlong rush to cease. There before her was the Allies' fleet, headed up by that so familiar black triangular warship, Pyramidas.

"Unidentified craft! This is the Allies' fleet commander, the Phantom Ranger. State your identity." Kerrin's crisp voice hailed her, his image appearing on her screen from the bridge of the Space Rangers' craft. Even now she noted Cassie's proximity to him and wondered in the jumble of thought whether they had got together before this all happened. She hoped so. She shook her head to try and calm her accelerated thoughts.

"Katherine of Earth, Pink Cheetah Master Ninjetti," Kat stated firmly and clearly, not wanting to be misunderstood at this critical juncture. "I'm going to try and get you to the battle now. A second fleet is attempting to flank our forces and we need reinforcement. Fortunately they are non-Nid-hi so your weaponry should be effective against them."

"We are travelling at maximum speed already," Phantom said, shaking his head. "We understand the need for haste, but some things are not possible."

"You forget your heritage – With the Great Power, all things are possible," Kat replied, sincerely hoping her words were not meaningless. "I will use the power of the Master Ninjetti to get you there in time. We must hurry, every moment could mean disaster. Take your fleet to battle readiness, Phantom," Kat stated, trying to believe in her own words, unaware of how confident she sounded. "How am I going to transport ALL of them? There are thousands of them!"

She closed her eyes a moment. There was no room for doubt. Speed was their salvation, the difference between life and death. In one moment life and death could clash, and who knew which would emerge victorious? Time to tip the odds in their favour.

"Brace yourselves … gonna be a fast and rough ride," Kat warned, her blue eyes fierce with the knowledge of what HAD to be done to save her friends, her family and the Earth.

"Fleet prepared." Kerrin sounded only the slightest bit unsure. He knew the legends of the Great Power, but one person moving an entire space fleet strained his credulity. "We are at your disposal and battle ready!"

"Acknowledged." The Pink Cheetah Zord glowed as Kat concentrated, the aura of Power stretching out, jumping from ship to ship, knitting them together in a giant web of light. Her muscles tensed under the strain, feeling the additional burden in a strange fashion, increased in presence as she connected each of the allies into her speed. But still the power grew as her mind turned to thoughts of home and her fear that they would be too late. They HAD to get back! Rocky was there; if she didn't, Rocky would be one of the first to be overwhelmed and she could not allow that! Her lungs and muscles feeling like they would burst with effort, she let the Master Power of Hopespeed uncoil and sweep the fleet away on their desperate mercy mission at incomprehensible speed through space.

In actual time, the trip took little time, very little time, but to Kat it was an eternity. Time subjectively stretched out, running as in a dream, running and feeling things pass around her, but some terrible, dreadful thing dragging her down and fear in every heartbeat.

*Just a little further … just a little further … end of the race, finish line ahead … then ... then you can stop running and …* Kat's heart was pounding as if she had run every parsec physically carrying all those ships on her back, dragging them like chains weighing her down, muscles trembling with strain.

Somehow she could see through the blurred space to know the end was in sight. She had to be soon enough! She had to be in time, whatever the cost.

And … HERE! The brakes were on and inertia halted, throwing her against the straps in her seat. She hoped it was enough, god, she couldn't breathe, was going to be sick and pass out.

The Allies' fleet swept forward around her tumbling craft to prevent them pouncing on the Ninjetti Frontline, ready to engage from the moment they dropped out of the hyperspeed Kat had managed to effect, and not unnaturally their presence caused some consternation.

"Dark Spectre, a fleet has appeared out of nowhere!" a subordinate reported, sounding shocked.

"Can't they come up with a more original ruse?" the Magma Lord snarled. How tedious. "Any phase gem residuals?"

"No, sire," the ensign reported.

"Then it is another fake. Pathetic. I expected more from those who thwart the Alliance of Evil for so long." Dark Spectre looked at the approaching berserk Zord with a sense of unease. "What is that thing!?"

"It is but one Zord, my Lord," an advisor said, placating him. "What difference can one Zord make?"

"True enough. Launch fighters!" came the terse order. "We will crush this petty defence."

"Enemy there … threat ... main threat! Danger! Invading territory!"

Aisha was reacting on a visceral level. There was a threat to her, her 'family', her territory and THIS was one of the main attackers. With Berserker power she ploughed through weapons fire that would have destroyed half of their forces and latched, tearing and clawing, with her Zord to the flagship that contained Dark Spectre.

"Kill … end the threat … fight … kill … protect …"

She was merged with the most primal side of her animal spirit the Bear. Gone was the wisdom, and present was the strength and protection this spirit was endowed with in such great quantities.

"Enemy Zord has engaged our craft … physically," the shaken ensign reported, as Dark Spectre's flagship trembled.

"By the Powers of Darkness! Get the fighters to blast it off," Dark Spectre roared.

"My Lord, that may damage the outer hull!" the subordinate said desperately.

"And the craft is not? IDIOT!" Dark Spectre lashed out with his Power, abruptly filling the hapless ensign's bones with liquid fire. The unfortunate creature did not scream for too long as the flagship rocked under the inconceivable attack.

His anger fuelled rather than abated by the murder of one of his subordinates, Dark Spectre roared in defiance and routed power to the hull of his battleship to electrify the intruder, not caring about anyone else who might fall foul of his retaliatory measures. NOTHING could survive that!

An assessment that was proven by the explosions of the outer hull gun turrets as plasma energy tried to purge the ship clean.

Protected by the Master Power, though that energy flared and flickered like a raging fire, impossibly the damage did not seem to stop the Yellow Bear Zord.

The tiny scrap of fighting technology tore and hacked at the surface of the flagship, a speck against its immense bulk, but like a needle against a bloated balloon, piercing, unstoppable and relentless.

A dim awareness warned Aisha this could not last and her conscious mind wrested some semblance of control over her primal attack, arrowing towards an exposed core channel, burrowing deeper into the metallic hide of the enemy craft. The rage flickered and faltered and trusting the invulnerability would last just long enough, she launched deadly missiles whilst embedded in the very belly of Dark Spectre's flagship. A terminal eruption of acid plasma flame streamed into the vulnerable underbelly, filling its internal structure with the purifying fire.

In a series of painfully slow explosions, for all of Dark Spectre's ranting and raving, the Flagship was crippled and dying, bleeding debris and fuel before cracking apart in a startling shattering silence, spewing out a last vomiting burst of white plasma to mark its passing.

A spontaneous cheer rang through the link as the news was passed around, but Rocky was acutely aware that THREE master Ninjetti were tumbling aimlessly on that battleground as the Allies' fleet rushed to engage the remainder of Dark Spectre's forces.

"Billy, we have to get Kat, Aisha and Adam out of there," he called out, selecting the closest of the HomeGuard to instruct and resolutely breaking orbit.

"Understood." Billy glanced at Skye, who was already tracking and plotting a course to intercept the nearest Zord casualty as he tried to fly and not lose too much time on completion of his assignment. The Blue WolfZord chased across the field of fire and locked onto the first disabled craft, the floating Black FrogZord.

"Adam! Adam, can you hear me?" Billy focussed urgently as the Frogzord was drawn into a tractor beam embrace and then more clumsily borne from the battlefield of stars. Encumbered, they took some hits and the Blue Wolf Ninjetti cursed as some of his delicate calibrations were upset, but he was more concerned that there was no response from Adam.

"Skye?" He turned to his friend concernedly, knowing his friend would see the request in his eyes.

There was a glimmer of light in the heart of the Star Crystal as the Phoenix Ninjetti reached out and investigated with his mind.

"He's alive – unconscious, but alive. Exhaustion mainly," Skye reported, sounding relieved.

Billy echoed that sigh of relief, unable to conceal his reaction. "Alert Moonbase we are bringing him in. If he's just unconscious, then some time on the Table should bring him round in no time."

Rocky unclenched a fist. Thank God! That was one down. His own intercept course took him directly towards his last marker for the Pink Cheetah Zord. "Kat? Kat, Aisha can you hear me?" Around him dazzles of hostile fire burst like fireworks and ships flashed and turned, wheeled and burned in the night.

"I've got … Aisha…" Kat gasped out as if she had been running and was still trying to catch her breath. "Her Zord is… trashed..and we have some unfriendlies coming our way." She gulped and swallowed convulsively as her lungs heaved for air. She felt like she was still going to throw up and her muscles were all shaky, which would be fine if she weren't in the middle of a starship firefight. At the end of a cross-country route, or a hard workout or gruelling dance session maybe, but not here and now. Her Zord reflected her drained power and struggled to move at all.

"I'm coming, Kat," Rocky said, his tone completely serious.

"No… you have to stay where you are. Not risk communications," Kat said wearily.

"I am protecting communications. If something happened to you … they … I would fall apart," Rocky replied in a very sensible tone, which was all the more affecting for its calm seriousness. "Rescuing you is a sound strategy – and here I come!"

The Red Ape Zord spun and tore through the enemy squadron, reflecting Rocky's long-pent-up need to strike back at the Nid-hi. It was good to act and release some of the tension that had been rising, as the odds grew ever higher against them.

"I'll cover you." A voice sounded on the normal channels. He had to think a moment, but recognised the ship. There were very few that didn't remember a massive black flying pyramid.

"Thanks, Trey," Rocky said gratefully, sweeping in behind the lee of the Pyramid Zord to retrieve Kat and Aisha, not liking the look of the Bear Zord at all. It seemed a miracle it was hanging together and he secured it carefully before taking it, staggering back to Moonbase with his precious cargo.

"Gotcha, love," he murmured to Kat as he reluctantly released them into a docking hanger. "I hate to do this …"

"..but you have to go. I know." Kat said, a smile audible in her voice "Go on, love. I'll take care of Aisha."

"Be with you soon, Kat," Rocky promised her and himself as he returned to his assigned post with a mental sigh.

***

"Are they being deliberately obstructive or just dense?" Jason snapped as he examined his readouts. "Military aircraft, you are ignoring our warnings! Do not engage the enemy, they have shields that your weaponry will not affect." He instructed tersely once again.

"There's very little Tomahawks won't touch," a calm, assured voice responded. "Look, kid, we know what we are doing. We're experienced in live combat. Back off and let us deal with these alien buggers."

*Kid? Kid? I've seen more action than you have even if you are three times my age!* His Lionspirit growled and he fought the instinct to just stand back and let them get on with it. Jason grimaced; the propaganda of the Darkness Visible was swift in its impact. Rather carefully he used his diplomatic skills from the Peace Conference to not respond hastily.

"I'm sure you have, sir, but I am telling you you'll end up with a face full of missile exploding on you and not a scratch on their ships!" He tried reasoning with them – fruitlessly.

"Jason, leave it. We have an atmosphere entry on the West Coast!" His father's voice sounded over the communicators rather than through the link. "Major enemy incursion."

"But …" He couldn't just let them go into danger like that. They would be killed! Needlessly, more to the point, because they wouldn't listen to vital information!

"Jason! Do as I say." His father snapped out a command that spoke to many childhood instincts and memories, and Jason found himself breaking off and wheeling Red Lion Zord away instinctively.

"Sorry, son," his father added afterwards. "But we need you there. Lilian is going to talk to the military," he said as if pulling an ace from up his sleeve.

"Tell her not to upset too many four-star generals," Jason said dryly. Mrs DeSantos was rapidly acquiring legendary status and his respect for Rocky had increased considerably. "Who is party crashing the West?"

"Zedd and Co." Justin's voice sounded over the normal communication channels.

Jason shook his head. Seemed weird hearing him as a baritone, he was still a kid, for crying out loud. He had a sudden irreverent thought of Justin's voice having broken into a bass and mentally kicked himself for letting his mind try to escape from the pressures at hand.

"How are they doing in Europe?" he asked, not wanting to disturb Delphine if it was not necessary.

"Making headway," came the rather evasive response. "Experiencing much the same attitude you are getting now from their military forces."

"Tell me they didn't reach the capital cities," Jason begged as the blip of enemy craft appeared on his sensors.

There was a telling hesitation.

"Dad?" Jason felt the pressure of that silence grow in a way that made the back of his neck prickle.

There was a cough and a clearing of throat as if words were proving reluctant to control in his father's mouth. "Er … most of the capital cities are safe - so far."

Hesitation was NOT good news. "Where did they reach?" Jason asked in a tense tone.

"Geneva, Moscow … and part of London," his father said, reluctant to burden his son with this information. The newsfeed was horrific in its graphic depiction of cities in flames.

Jason closed his eyes momentarily. God. He'd BEEN to those places. Walked their streets, laughed and breathed the air that was now choked with destruction. When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with a purpose and fire that would have startled those who knew him. Revenge – no, but justice, justice was allowed.

"Son? You need backup before you take them on. Jason? Jason, are you listening?" His father cursed as the channel was cut off and he watched that tiny glowing speck of light on the tracking display head straight towards the large cluster of enemies.

***

Divatox watched Rita and Zedd drop through the atmosphere and then chose an insertion point that would take her down near Washington, DC.

Reasoning told her that if the United States, however pitiful a group, did not know the location of this Orb then they had sufficient resources to extract that information with all haste. She waited until that Red Lion Ninjetti was engaged in battle before locking on to the White House and taking over their communications with ridiculous ease.

"Mr President - I believe that is the term of address you use." Divatox's visage appeared from every screen, her voice from every speaker. "We are feeling a little impatient now. We want that Orb, and you know what? When you can destroy a planet with little effort, you don't get terribly enamoured of being kept waiting."

"We don't HAVE access to that information," the President said firmly. "Not that I would hand it over just like that if I did."

"Oh, I think you would." Divatox smiled, a cold malicious curve to her lips. "You are not aware of how much incentive you have to do so." The half mask seemed to crawl with shadows for a moment. "Let me make this clear. You have one hour to provide me with the location of the Orb, if not the item itself, or I will release a nerve gas over your city that will have your precious voters ... dying in agonies in about … oooh, 5 minutes." She smiled again.

"I recommend that you not even consider that I am bluffing. There are plenty of civilisations who found out the hard way that Divatox the Space Pirate never bluffs when the real thing is so much more fun."

The President was then treated to a compilation of Divatox's greatest massacres from around the galaxy before her face appeared again "One hour. Oh, you'll need a timer." And one of her bombs materialised on his desk, reinforcing how completely outclassed he was in terms of technology and security.

The President looked up and saw the message in Divatox's eyes glittering with malice.

There is nowhere that I cannot get to you, anytime, any place.

As her image vanished, he reluctantly set in motion the calls to set all of the resources at his disposal on the task of locating this object.

"If nothing else, I need something to be able to bargain with it," he rationalised, but deep down it was a cold fear that slipped chill fingers into the pit of his stomach and squeezed the co-operation from him.

***

"Forces of Darkness, there's only ONE of them!" Zedd grumbled. "We should have borrowed some of Scorpina's warriors."

"Quiet! I'm trying magic here!" Rita snapped, the ritual falling in tatters as her concentration tore apart at the disruption.

"My Lord, it is that one who was the Red Ranger." Goldar snarled, his eyes glowing red. There was a bond between them, and with the instinct of a warrior race Goldar sensed it was time for them to meet again. He looked forward to it. "I request my Lord's permission to enter the fray."

Lord Zedd looked irritated. "Of course. Take Cyclopsis and stop that blasted Red Ranger … Red Ninjetti, whatever he is, from bothering us until Rita has found the Orb."

The giant winged primate snarled in a grin and, making an obeisance, hurried to battle, savouring the expected defeat of a bitter enemy like the taste of hot fresh blood in his mouth.

***

"The battle goes well, my lord, for all their sudden manifestation of Allies," Ilana reported from her fighter where she was co-ordinating the battle with all her fearsome intelligence and ability. "We are making headway toward their planet. Their forces have been distracted by the second assault, as you predicted."

The soothing voice of the Darkness Visible responded. "This is as planned, though I note our Allies have become over-enthusiastic in their attempts to secure the Orb on my behalf." There was a hint of wry sarcasm to the last phrase.

"My Lord, if they cannot locate it with their brutal methods, then …" Ilana paused, "how do you propose to do so yourself?"

"Such a bold question, my Chosen." The Darkness Visible chuckled with wry humour. "Plans within plans. We will locate my Orb, never fear … let's just say I have one of the best minds at my disposal working on it."

"Yes, my Lord." Ilana's voice disappeared as the Darkness Visible stared out across space.

It really was a shame that mind wasn't actually on his side. "Don't let me down, Wolf Ninjetti, I have placed a great deal of trust in you," he murmured to himself as the conflict burned in the heavens against the backdrop of stars.

***

"Nearly got it," Billy said under his breath. "Try and hold them off a little longer, Skye; I need some stability here."

"Doing my best," came the terse response as WolfZord tackled another of the swarms of quantrons converging around Rocky's position. "Not helping that you've half of WolfZord's innards out to make your gadget, whatever it is, reality mapper thing."

"Gotta have the tech from the holographic imager. You've flown instrument blind before," Billy replied absently, drawing back and twisting the last connection to the power source in place. "Got it. Here we go."

The Blue Wolf Ninjetti flipped a switch and a three-dimensional pattern appeared in the air above the jury-rigged device, sparkling with lights and overlaying the holographic representations of the planets.

Skye risked a glance behind him. "Lovely, sparkly, pretty. What the hell does it do?" he wondered aloud as he banked the Zord hard right to avoid potential destruction.

"Illustrate concentrations of reality. Even inactive, the sort of impact a substance that focussed reality would have a significant effect on normal reality." Billy said, frowning as he scrutinised the holographic map of reality nodes.

Skye nodded and looked again quickly. "Without being rude, I see lots of sparkly lights, but nothing that sticks out from the rest of it, not really."

"You're right." Billy sighed to himself. Had he spent all that time on NOTHING? "I was SURE it would be obvious. I'll just have to search the hot spots."

"Could you do it quickly?" Skye replied anxiously as he began to sweat a little under the pressure. How Rocky was managing to fight and retain his communications focus he didn't know. "Only things are, um, getting out of hand here."

The screen ran up a list, and it was fortunate that it was alphabetical as Billy immediately paused over one entry. "Angel Grove, California. I wonder …"

Was it really that much of a coincidence? Was THAT why Zordon's base was there? Why all the villains seemed drawn to conquer there first rather than somewhere actually politically important?

And if he could come to this conclusion, then so would they.

"Cestro? Cestro!" he called urgently through the Ninjetti link.

"I am here," Cestro responded calmly. "What is it, Billy?"

"I've hooked up a reality mapper looking for that Orb," he explained quickly. "And Angel Grove shows up as a hot spot. The moment they realise, they'll be coming after you al… all our families, our home."

Damn, but that brought it home. That familiar feeling he got when a monster alert went off in the early years and the danger was immediate, up close and personal, threatening all they held dear.

"I will prepare for battle immediately," the Aquitian responded, still sounding calm. Billy wished he felt as composed as Cestro seemed to be.

"We'll be there as soon as we can, but we can't leave Rocky up here until someone covers him." Billy promised, itching to get there. "Kim! We could use some support here!"

"Give me a moment, and I'll be there," came the response, from the Pink Crane Master Ninjetti. "The Nid-hi are swarming all over the place up here, how Tommy and the others are stopping them from completely breaking the line I don't know. Tanya is going to be like the world champion of jigsaw puzzles by the end of this."

The tone was familiar, and Billy felt himself smile a little. "And not even a stereo in sight."

"I heard that!" Kim retorted "Consider yourself covered, now go and do whatever it is you have to do and get your tail down to Earth!"

Skye laughed to himself, a strange sound in the grimness of battle and Billy responded with a "Thanks, Kim!" as they turned and headed toward home.

***

Rita muttered under her breath, drawing on her ages-old powers, invoking her desires into the twisted black magic that had taken her this far. The VisionFire dust lay in her hand, a corrupted version of the Ninjetti power, and focusing, she flung it into her consecrated black flame. A remarkably similar image appeared to that currently shimmering in the WolfZord and she cackled. "Ha! Follows the Magick lines of power I mapped not long after we first arrived." She crowed and then paused. "And the Magick reservoir at Angel Grove was unusually strong. If we had taken there, we would have been unassailable. I wonder … Zedd!" The last was a screech that demanded attention.

"What is it? I'm watching half our armies kick the daylights out of that annoying Red Ranger … Ninjetti … whatever," Zedd grouched.

"I think it's at Angel Grove," Rita interrupted. "The Rangers' home base. Makes sense, doesn't it?"

Zedd paused, the reasoning flowing through his twisted mind all too easily. "It does indeed. Hmmm. Goldar!"

"My liege?" There was the sound of explosions in the background as Goldar's gruff voice came over the communications link.

"Finish off that Red Ranger, then join us at Angel Grove. We have business there." Lord Zedd smiled and then turned to see Rita talking to Master Vile on screen and groaned.

When she was done, he complained loudly. "Why did you tell HIM?"

"Because he has the resources to bust that two-bit town wide open, and we don't," Rita said, picking up her staff. "Besides, we're FAMILY."

Zedd shook his head. "And that would be reason enough for most to stab each other in the back." He sighed. Try as he might, he'd never been able to get Rita to shake her family connections and loyalties. Well, he guessed all of them had at least one vice.

"Lock co-ordinates Angel Grove," he ordered, turning his back on a very pleasing battle in search of the greatest of prizes. They all had to make sacrifices for Power after all.

***

"Zedd's breaking formations, Jason," Rocky informed him through the link, his mental tone tinged with alarm. "He appears to be heading toward Angel Grove!"

The Red Lion Ninjetti swore. "I've got Goldar and a host of fighters all over me! I can't get out!"

"The Power Chamber is dealing with it, I hope, and Billy is coming down," Rocky informed him, receiving confirmation from Justin. "But that means you are on your own."

Jason glared at his enemy out of LionZord's cockpit "That's just fine. Just how I want it."

"Watch yourself, Jase," Rocky said anxiously. "Goldar is a tough one."

"Don't worry, no reject from the Wizard of Oz on steroids is going to get me." Jason reassured, flexing LionZord's Laserclaws in preparation to make a leap. "I'll get to Angel Grove as soon as I can!"

***

A sight that had not been seen in Angel Grove for some time appeared via live feed on the local news. Master Vile had obliged Rita's request by sending down some monsters to rampage randomly as a distraction, and the once nearly daily occurrence of strange misshapen creatures trampling through the city streets was happening again. Fortunately there was at least SOMEONE to fight them off.

"Yeeeehaw!" Justin was in warrior mode and exploring the phenomenal jumps his DolphinZord could do. The monster he was facing was not at all impressed when he caught it around the back of the head. "Stupid thing." He shook his head and thwapped it neatly with his trident and then bust it apart completely with a SonarBoom.

"I think whatshisname … Finster's oven is in need of an overhaul. Definitely undercooked efforts," Justin muttered and turned "On to the next one. Cestro, how are you doing?"

"I am despatching the enemy with comparative ease," came the calm response with only a faint hint of anxiety, as Cestro was experienced enough to know when he was dealing with cannon fodder. "This concerns me. The real focus of their attack is yet to come and we are being diverted."

"Billy's on his way," Justin reassured. "We have some backup coming."

"Indeed," Cestro admitted. "We must not let them get to our base of operations."

"That goes without saying," Justin replied. "Billy! Get yourself down here pronto."

"On our way," Billy answered as WolfZord plummeted through the yawning void of space.

"I don't see how this fits with Dulcea's bit of the sacred knowledge," Skye said again as they entered Earth atmosphere with a familiar re-entry judder. "'And it shall be hidden in the place where none shall look but without it none shall see to seek.' What does that have to do with Angel Grove?"

Billy shook his head. "I don't know. It doesn't come together, I admit it, but the main reason we are going there is because THEY don't know it doesn't fit. And if I saw this information and had the same history that we all do, I would come to the conclusion that this is the place to start looking."

"Readouts picking up monster activity," Skye confirmed as images and readouts flicked up with a variety of data.

"Ah, but where are the real players?" Billy murmured. "There we go. Rita and Zedd trying to get the one up on their allies. You can always rely on them to try a double-cross." What was more concerning was the way they were hoving in above the Power Chamber and the town.

Home … my home.

After all their time wandering in space, the poignancy of returning to home had been nearly overwhelming. Billy felt he hadn't understood what people meant by having roots somewhere until he had left, and then returned. There was a physical pull to his home and a desperate need to preserve it. Rationalising it and finding altruistic reason were neither here nor there, there were memories and parts of himself invested in every part of Angel Grove and he wasn't going to allow them to be destroyed.

"My home has a guard dog and he's got sharp teeth," he said aloud and without prompting Skye gripped his seat as the attack acceleration punched in and they dived at Rita and Zedd to thwart their attack.

***

The Darkness Visible sighed with impatience. A part of his complex being cautioned him that he had waited too long to jeopardise things with hasty actions, but another chafed at the delay. Eons, and he was close enough to touch victory. Petty battles raging around him, his creatures fighting for him were merely a distraction. By all means, if they succeeded he would reward them. Give them a planet. What was a planet but a speck of dust in the universe? Ha. Or even a galaxy. He would have powers not even the gods dreamed of, powers that transcended natural Laws. All he needed was the final bit of information, the bit that, for all his knowledge and vast experience, he could not retrieve himself. Finally he would have infinite power in the most literal interpretation of the phrase and be truly eternal. The reign of order would spring from his mind and all that was imperfect and unfitting would be purged. Pleasant thoughts indeed. There was no thought that failure was possible, he had pre-empted EVERYTHING thanks to their foolish reliance on Prophecy. It was like a complex game of chess where his opponent had thoughtfully provided him with a list and sequence of the moves he was going to make. That was a delightful irony and he laughed to himself as he awaited the final moves in his end game.

***

"What do you MEAN there's no record of this thing?" The President of the United States roared, perspiring a little as he looked at the counter ticking down in the bombproof shielding they had put around it. "You have complete access to ALL databases – total clearance!"

"Nothing matches this search parameter, sir." The nervous researcher nearly dropped his printouts."These are the nearest files and possible correlations."

"Jesus." The President grabbed them. "Well, it's something. Christ knows if it will be enough."

"Maybe if we had more time ..." The researcher stammered as both of them turned to see the bomb count down the final ten seconds, hypnotised into a paralysis by its metronome tick.

A muted pop that was oddly anticlimactic made them both jump. "Time is not something we have left," the President said, sitting down heavily.

The screen flicked on around them. "Like my alarm clock, Mr President?" Divatox laughed at his ashen expression. "Let's see how you've done on giving millions of your precious citizens a death row pardon, shall we?" She had been in earth territories long enough to know how to twist the knife. "Where is the Orb?"

The President shuffled the papers frantically. "We have a selection of possible … highly probable targets," he began hastily.

Divatox glared and her fingers toyed with a control. "Do you have the Orb there?"

"Well ... no ... not actually HERE as such." The man tried to cover his panic. "But we have information that might tell you where it is, and surely we can negotiate."

"Enough! You think you are ruthless, you people of Earth. You think you know of Power and its uses. Political Children! Stupid political children, all of you! Well ... children who don't do exactly as they are told get punished." Divatox smiled with venomous sweetness. "Say goodbye to your population ... Mr President."

And she pressed the button with as little pang of conscience as if it was a toy.

Above the capital city the missiles with their deadly payload exploded, sending an obnoxious purple toxic nerve gas cascading across the city. Divatox helpfully relayed a live broadcast of this across the world.

"People of Earth." And in some strange way Divatox managed to imply the word 'scum' in her address. "We've asked nicely for the Orb, we made a deal with your Leader to get it back, and you'll be unsurprised to note he couldn't deliver on his promises." She gave a rather disturbing, vindictive smile.

"Politicians, hey? Well, I DO deliver on my promises, just as I promised to gas the whole of your capital city here if your President did not produce the Orb."

The picture lingered on random shots of people dropping in paroxysms of agony in the streets, chaos and mayhem.

"I'll make you all another promise. Every hour until the Orb is delivered to me I will depopulate another major city picked at random around the world." The Space Pirate smiled sweetly, but there was a threat on the edges of those words like blood fresh on a blade.

"Oh dear god." Diane Scott could not believe what she was seeing. "This CAN'T be true. There has to be some way ... somehow." She looked around at the others in the Power Chamber. "They have to stop this!"

"How?" Adam's father said, fixated on the pictures with a grim focus. "How can you stop a nerve gas? There's no way …"

"Not for us, maybe, but what about them?" she said, gesturing skyward. They all knew whom she meant, but they had no answers for her.

Rocky however was already on it, the moment the broadcast began. *Think laterally,* he urged himself. *Think resources, think potentials…*

Ordinary Ninjetti? Probably not. Master Ninjetti? Possible in terms of Power. Mentally he reviewed the Master Ninjetti and toyed for a moment with getting Delphine to somehow suck the gas away, but where would it go and the tornado required would level the place … no ….

His eyes widened suddenly and he sat up. "Zack! Zack, get your mongoose butt down to DC IMMEDIATELY!"

"I hear and obey," Zack quipped. "What's going on down there?"

"Nerve Gas." Rocky sent over the link through gritted teeth. That was sheer terrorism, the scenes going on as Divatox made her speech. "Hurry, Zack, they haven't got very long!"

"Rocky man, I don't know if I can DO anything," Zack's voice sounded worried.

"At least we can say we have tried," Rocky replied quietly. "Could you live with standing by on your conscience?"

"No, I couldn't." There was no trace of lightheartedness in Zack's voice now. "If there's a way …"

The Black Mongoose Zord arced through the atmosphere, through the heart of the noxious purple cloud, and landed in the midst of the chaos that had been a city, minutes before.

He exited the Zord and stood, rage and anger that were alien to his soul finding him. He was safe suited up like this, the Glyph Sigel on his chest sparkling jet black. Immunity … he had the Master Power of Immunity … but what did that mean? That he could survive a poison?

His mind flashed suddenly back to a date with Aisha where they discussed her childhood and her attempts to save the wildlife where she lived.

It seemed incongruous until a key phrase was remembered.

"You can produce an anti-toxin out of the poison," she said when they had been trying to find the source of what seemed to be poisoning the animals. "And then use that as a catalyst to neutralise the rest."

Suddenly it seemed all too obvious what he had to do.

"Oh man, I must be nuts," he murmured aloud and grasped his helmet carefully.

"Zack, what are you doing?" Rocky sounded anxious. "ZACK!"

His mongoose spirit chittered anxiously. "One does not invite the bite of the cobra ..."

"Unless it is to save those you protect," Zack replied and spoke aloud. "Getting some fresh air, Rocko," as the helmet was removed, leaving him exposed to the deadly atmosphere. He tried not to breathe, but in the end he gulped the foul air into his lungs, feeling it sting and burn.

A trembling hand went to his glyph of power as he struggled through spasming lungs to say the words. "Master … Power …" a spate of whooping coughs robbed him of voice, but he rallied. "Master … Power Sigel!" and he felt a rush inwards, a cleansing, a fire burning and screaming through his blood, hunting down each molecule of poison and with great effort, he TURNED the flow of that energy and sent it out … sent it away, into the sky, into the city, making them a part of his body that had to be cleansed of poison. He collapsed to his knees, and then to his side rolling to lie out flat there on the road, his black Ninjetti Master Gylph gleaming and pulsing out his channelled spirit energy.

"Delphine! Delphine, do you read me?" Rocky was panicking … he could feel an ebbing away in his mind where Zack should be. "You done over there? Zack needs help!"

"What the hell is he doing?" That was Tommy cutting in, sensing something of Rocky's panic.

"I think he's trying to stop the nerve gas," Rocky explained, feeling terribly guilty.

"How?" The White Falcon Ninjetti was terse and to the point.

"He's taken his helmet off and invoked his Master Power - in the middle of the affected area!"

"Oh man!" Tommy groaned. "Is he managing it?"

"Difficult to tell," Rocky said helplessly.

"I will assist and stop Divatox from her destructive ways," Delphine said sounding weary from her prolonged battle over Europe. "I will be within range momentarily." But they were all aware it would probably not be soon enough to stop Divatox from trying again.

Fire in the blood, that's what it was, pushing out. Toxins clashed with the Master Power of Immunity and fought a battle no less epic than the one occurring in space.

As Zack lay there on the warm road, chest heaving, a darkness descended, shadows encroaching around his vision as he stared up at the sky and PUSHED hard at the limits of his power.

Not enough. Not enough ...

And there – a stillness inside of him, the depth of the Black Power offering that which only the Black could … the bargain.

"There are limits even with the Master Power," his mongoose spirit said sadly as not all the gas was neutralised. "You stand on the threshold. This is as far as you can go…"

Zack felt the choking air, the knowledge in him that he could step back now and live or go on and die. And what would dying profit if nothing more was gained …?

But the Power of the Black was potential. Yes, he had spoken to Adam; he had seen it in the awakening of himself to his Ninjetti power. The potential to change the limits of things. God help him.

What was to stop this happening again? What was to stop them destroying the Earth with biological weapons, poisons, anything? Nothing. Nothing at all.

A press of a button and all the might of the Ninjetti and their lives rendered into chaos and death.

Zack lay on the tarmac of the street, feeling its solidity, familiarity beneath questing fingers and hated himself because he there was no way he could avoid the question, or worse still, the answer.

Could I stop that? Could I make a difference?

And a deeper voice inside, a deeper and more fundamental harmonic resonated through him in answer, offering the double-edged sword of its potential. It would give whilst taking away.

Yes. Choose.

And the options were then so obvious … so obvious … but no less hard for all that.

"I'm so sorry, Aisha," he whispered through strained breath from ravaged lungs, his decision made. "So little time we had ... so little ... But, my love ... Zack Taylor has the last laugh …"

The Master Power gathered in him and his whole body began to glow brighter and brighter, starting to stream up into the sky, dissolving his thought and mortality into the light born of the Black.

And where she lay wounded and unconscious in Moonbase, a tear ran down Aisha's cheek, its glistening trail marking the path of Zachary Taylor's final dance through the skies of Earth.

***

"ZACK!" It was Skye, sensitive to the burning place in his mind that responded to his passing.

"No! Zack, please … no!" he moaned in desperation

Billy jumped, startled, and turned. "What? WHAT!?"

"He's, oh god, he's going to …" Skye looked at Billy, his eyes brimming suddenly. "He's done it, he's …" The artist crumpled inwards, unable to finish.

"No." Billy felt the moment crystallise around him, locking him in place despite their own danger. "No, he can't, you ... No, there has to be ..."

"He's dead," Skye said, swallowing and looking at Billy with anxious concern mixed with grief. "I'm sorry … if only ..." He choked off the rest of the sentence. It was his own hell that he knew his life could possibly save others if and when it was used.

"Why … why?!" Billy said angrily, not understanding what had happened or what had been gained by Zack using his life to fuel his Master Power.

Skye nodded to the monitor where Divatox released another salvo of deadly nerve weapons and they exploded high in the air. There was a brief sparkle of energy around the lurid gas and it turned black and then faded, neutralised immediately.

"Oh Zack." Billy was white with grief and shock. Gone. His friend, who could make them all laugh; who could show them how to survive the emotional shocks over what they did with such ease that they barely noticed, was gone. Zack, whom he had played with when they moved to Angel Grove, who had been part of who he was, part of his life, somewhere in his memories and now…

Now memories were the only place he would ever be.

***

They mourned in their own ways. Particularly the original rangers.

Trini's calm became a deadly weapon, a Tiger dance of destruction seeking to lose the pain in battle. She and Jason, they'd spent so much time with him. Unbidden, memories of Zack rose before her sight as she fought, when for all her reserve she had laughed and laughed until she was nearly sick. She hated the memories, hated them because they told her what she wanted to deny; this was real, he had died, he was gone and to say he did for a greater good seemed right now just words as empty as the void they battled in.

Mind to mind they reached, all of them, drawing comfort from each other when they could not find it in themselves, soothing the tortured conscience of Rocky for sending him to that place where he breathed his last, comforting those who felt responsibility and turning what had happened into their best motivation to win, rather than give up ... as so many of the other surviving Ninjetti had done. If he could give his all, then so would they.

***

Lillian DeSantos sighed. Her heart went out to the Taylors, but what else could they say? Zack's mother was breaking her heart in one of the rooms, being comforted by Ishala. Now there was a woman whom she could respect, she had a calm authority in her that made everyone around her listen and defer to her judgment. It seemed hard to swallow, but they had problems enough that grieving would have to wait. She knew that … when she had lost Ricardo, her grieving had to wait for the sake of the children. Sometimes she wondered if she had ever let herself really let go. But there was one thing she knew, and that was the Taylors would not be the only ones mourning if they did not focus now. The other adults in the Power chamber were deathly pale and hushed as if only now realising this was not a game their children were playing. The ground rumbled unexpectedly and Lillian steadied herself before calling out.

"Come on, people, they need us! Let's get some help for them all … hmm? Hank, get hold of the President. If there is one thing I will do is tell him EXACTLY why he is still breathing, my gift to one of our brave children." Her eyes were dark and fiery with emotion.

She fiddled with a toggle button and spoke selfconsciously. "Rockino? Rocky, you hear me?"

"Yes, Mama." Rocky's voice held that tight strained pitch of someone trying hard not to cry.

"You have to concentrate on what you are doing, love. For the sake of everyone. They are relying on you." A Mother's way of finding the buttons to push, there was no one else who could do it with the same skill. "Tell us what is happening, and we will try and help."

There was a pause and the attempt at a factual report came through. "Rita, Zedd and Master Vile are targeting Angel Grove, Billy and Cestro are trying to stop them. Divatox is still around DC. Jason is fighting an army on his own. Delphine was meant to be backing him up, but is instead now trying to stop Divatox. The Allies' fleet headed by Phantom is battling against Dark Spectre's fleet, but taking heavy damage. Tommy is leading the assault there, and Kim is backing me up here." Dry facts. Dry and lifeless and he knew it, but he found it hard to just bounce back from this. Aisha had lost Zack, he could lose Kat or any of them lose each other if they indeed survived at all. It was a thought they had all tried to ignore as the war swept them into its embrace. It couldn't be ignored any longer. The only thing he could do was the best he could because if that weren't good enough there would be nothing else he could do anyway, and that meant not moping around. The others were relying on him.

"Justin, see if you can help blindside the force on Jason." He spoke with more authority and focus. "We have two Master Ninjetti covering Angel Grove as it is. When you are done, hightail it to back up Delphine." His voice and presence through the link grew stronger and Lillian DeSantos nodded in approval, though she didn't say any more. There was a time for sympathy and that would be later, when he had regained that respect for himself. He wasn't her baby anymore, for all that she wanted to protect him.

"Now … let's have a word with Mr President," she said, all but cracking her knuckles in preparation.

***

"Will you hurry up and crack open that fault line!" Rita paced up and down.

"I have to find the right area, or we will destroy what we are looking for," Zedd replied irritably.

"You think it can be destroyed? Ha!" Rita muttered to herself, wondering at his ignorance.

"Listen woman, you want to take that chance?" Zedd growled as he pinpointed the spot. "Now here, tell your father to hit the fault line here and it should peel the ground open all the way for about 20 miles."

Rita rolled her eyes at that and relayed the message to Master Vile. "Zedd says here, father." She transmitted the information.

"Very well, be prepared to take the prize and don't let that pirate snatch it," she was cautioned as WolfZord's first attack thundered onto the hull of their ship.

"Blasted Blue Ranger. I remember that Zord, damn thing jumping everywhere." Zedd settled himself. "Fire at Will! And for once I really mean at Will. Oh shut up, Rito!" he said exasperatedly at his brother-in-law's infantile hysterics.

"Sorry, Edd," the walking skeleton said flippantly.

"Tell me again why he's here?" Zedd asked the room in general and then staggered as the ship rocked again from WolfZord's second attack.

"I think father was hoping he might get killed," Rita said casually.

"On that I can agree with him." Zedd sighed. "Rito, get outside and distract that Ninjetti from what Master Vile is up to."

"Happy to oblige, Zeddy old boy." Rito flipped a salute and disappeared outside to thump to the ground.

"You or me?" Zedd asked, in a foul mood now.

"I will." Rita replied, patting him on the arm. "Magic Wand, make my BROTHER GROW!"

The burst of magical energy swelled Rito to monstrous size and he danced with glee, thundering on the desert floor.

"You should have said grow up instead of just grow," Zedd commented to Rita, watching his antics with disgust. "It will be a miracle if he can do anything."

"He just has to stand there, wave his sword around and look stupid," Rita reassured.

Zedd snorted. "Now for that he is IDEALLY qualified."

***

"Rito?" Billy looked at the immense apparition. Skye flinched back a little.

"He dangerous?" he asked, not as used to seeing massive monster forms spring out of nowhere as Billy appeared to be.

"Comparatively no ... which means that either Zedd and Rita don't care if we defend this spot of Angel Grove, or ..." Billy flinched as their Zord was tossed around by Zedd and Rita's ship opening fire from one side and Rito from the other. "A trap! Damn!"

"Billy, do you need assistance?" Cestro queried across the link.

"No … that's what they want us to do." The besieged Blue Wolf Ninjetti tried to fight his way out of the corner they were in. "Focus on Master Vile. He's the one working on something!"

"I concur." And Cestro swung out to intercept Master Vile and whatever plan he was trying to implement.

***

*On the face of it,* Justin thought as he sped towards helping Jason, *an aerial army against one Zord was logically a terminal situation for the Red Lion Ninjetti.*

And yet as he approached, the battle on screen reminded him of nothing as much as some space invader computer game, with hordes of mind-numbingly stupid craft pitting themselves against a skilled player.

Boom … Boom … Boom … one after another, the drones exploded as the RedLion Zord twisted and turned. The only one giving him any trouble was Goldar in Cyclopsis. Even Justin had heard about that. Tommy had told him, not to start off with, but later; as if he had been driven to confess to every new member the saga of his misdeeds as the Evil Green Ranger. Tanya, Adam and Rocky had heard it in their time, and he had eventually been let in on the secret. The thing that seemed to give Tommy the most trouble was the way he had left Jason powerless to be toyed with by Goldar in the Dark Dimensions, and the way he had nearly killed him in that same place. But even as a later comer to the Powers, Justin knew that there would be a grudge between the primate warrior and Jason and he would not be thanked for interfering there. So, to mop up the petty distractions then. The DolphinZord leapt into the fray and took on all the drone fighters with his usual enthusiasm.

"Flipper to the rescue!" Justin called out, the words caution and danger meaning practically nothing to him. "Wooooooohoooo!"

Jason managed to retain his focus and was not sure whether to be grateful or anxious at the help that had arrived.

"Watch yourself, Justin," Jason warned as he faced up against the immensity of Cyclopsis. This thing had taken out their original zords … all of them!

"I'll just keep the annoyances off of you," Justin said airily. "You deal with Goldar."

Jason wished he had the confidence that Justin seemed to at the moment. But then, they had when they were his age and started off as the Power Rangers. If they knew, really knew what it would entail he didn't doubt that they would have run away screaming at the thought. But they had been teenagers and believed that they were immortal and that there was nothing they couldn't handle. Maybe that had been the secret to why they won over and over despite the odds against them. None of then truly believed they could be beaten. Well then, the Power of positive thinking would aid him again. He KNEW he could beat Goldar. They had before, and he would again.

"Goldar, your time is over. I will defeat you, we both know that."

"I am a warrior of warriors in my race!" Goldar replied in his growling voice. "I have defeated all of my other rivals who were more worthy adversaries than you, human."

"And yet, I'm still alive. Can't help but think there is a gap in your logic there," Jason retaliated. "LionClaws!"

A swift shredding attack with the searing fire of the LionZord's laser claws and chunks of Cyclopsis ripped away, leaving gaping metallic wounds. The bone-jarring thud he received in return bounced him away, but like most cats, LionZord had excellent balance and managed to right itself before it went into a tumble.

"We will defeat you! I will triumph!" Goldar roared, getting frustrated. He remembered the Red Ranger as being more impulsive, more liable to hasty errors and anger. He had counted on those flaws.

"Wake me up when you start saying something new," Jason gritted out as he blurred with speed and literally clambered up Cyclopsis to attack the head module.

Goldar flailed around, the comparative sizes making it look ridiculous, but Cyclopsis sparked and flames appeared as one by one his systems failed. He ejected, burnished wings gleaming in the air as he caught the laden smoke to drift to the ground. The winged primate rolled and stood, a tiny figure silhouetted against the flaming carcass. He roared with chagrin and whirled his mighty sword above his head in a traditional challenge.

"I challenge you, Red Ranger … it's personal between us. Come and fight, coward! Come and FIGHT!"

Instincts burned in Jason to fight, to take the challenge. Defend your territory, spoke the voice of the lionspirit. It is right to do so. This one has challenged you in the past, you have a personal grudge against him, fight him strength to strength, prove yourself victorious…

Jason paused.

"Go on Jase, I'll cover for you," Justin encouraged, wondering why he hesitated. Surely he wouldn't pass up this opportunity? Who would?

Jason looked up at the sky. Above them his friends fought in the void of space, over their homes, over everywhere. Dulcea fought there for something important.

"No. Personal is not the always same as important" Jason said, feeling a rightness in himself that quenched the flames calling for vengeance and retribution. "Besides, Goldar … what would it prove? I know I have beaten you. It is only you who cannot accept the obvious and I will not be responsible for your ignorance. I do not waste time on matters that are of no real consequence."

With that the RedLion Zord turned and knowing it was the most crushing thing he could have done to his opponent, Jason moved on, leaving Goldar stranded in the desert, raging impotently at the disappearing Zord … surrounded by the hulking wreckage of his own.

***

"Rocky ... any time any of our HomeGuard want to come up the front lines, we could REALLY use the support," Tommy spoke through the link desperately. The Ninjetti were hard pressed. Attack and counter attack cycled in a ceaseless flow of destruction, and each time it was harder to regroup and attack. Tanya's ability to trigger megazord sequences was proving invaluable, but they were slower than the single Zord attacks. Tactics spun in his mind as he constantly searched for the weak spot he knew they had to have, that he HOPED the enemy actually had.

"They have their hands full, Tommy," Rocky replied, busy trying to defend himself and Moonbase. There were some attacks being directed at their depot there as well, and besides it being a strategic necessity, Kat was down there. "Billy and Cestro are hard pressed themselves, and I cannot get back up to them."

"Angel Grove is under attack?" Tommy asked, feeling his anxiety climb suddenly.

"Yes. Rita and Zedd and Master Vile." And if he was right, soon to be Divatox as well as the Space Pirate appeared to be fleeing from Delphine towards that area.

"Man … keep that quiet for now, Rocky; I can't afford to lose any support out here on the lines." Tommy responded with natural authority, considering the impact of the news on the Earth rangers especially.

" I know." Rocky had already considered that fact, the moment he felt the urge himself, to abandon his post and rush to protect his parents and home. "I'll keep it under wraps."

"Right. God, I hope Billy comes up with a plan soon, we can't just keep fighting with no real direction," Tommy said, sounding weary now.

"He's never let us down before," Rocky stated firmly, not even allowing the thought of 'there's always a first time' to enter his mind.

Plans at this precise moment were not high on Billy's agenda. Stopping Rita and Zedd's mother ship and Rito as well from bouncing them again, Zord and all, against the fastness that contained the Power Chamber was currently prioritising itself swiftly to the top of the list.

"You okay?" he asked his co-pilot, trying to get WolfZord on its feet as fast as possible.

"Fine." Skye's voice sounded a little shaky; he yelped as they were slammed back again and he was snapped out of his seat once more. He could be heard muttering many oaths under his breath.

Billy retaliated with a howling blast that enabled them to get back up and then frantically rerouted systems to get their equipment on line. "Oh no," he groaned under his breath. "More company. Just what we need!"

Divatox was heading their way to join the party.

***

"If you saw Master Vile's ship lock onto those co-ordinates, why didn't you tell me immediately!" Divatox raged as they sped towards Angel Grove. "Rita and Zedd are nearly as stupid as you, but I've never known Master Vile move unless he was sure of something!"

"I'm sorry, Auntie D, you told me to let you concentrate on the Ninjetti!" Elgar tried to defend himself.

The Space Pirate cursed and pushed up the speed to try and close the gap as Master Vile started to reach the source of the apparent reality focus by the simple expedient of trying to crack the Earth apart.

***

Hank Cranston steadied himself on the console in the Power Chamber. "We are experiencing Earthquake effects here, everyone," he called out urgently. "This is not getting any better. Whatever he is doing is setting off seismic disturbances all along the local faults."

"Translation ... the ground is rippling like water from here right down into Angel Grove," Trini's father interrupted, unconsciously mimicking the role of his daughter in relation to Hank's son.

"And it's getting worse."

The strangest thing was the sound. Earthquakes, it seemed, roared – growing louder in angry protest to being hit with pulse weapons. Items began to shimmy from surfaces, clattering to the ground, heavier unsecured objects beginning to bounce as the very ground bucked and twisted in response to the attack.

"Everyone! Earthquake drill!" Jason's father yelled above the growing panic. "Away from anything that might fall on you … go! Go!"

Sparks flew and smoke issued from tortured consoles as they tried evacuating. "Son, we're having … to …" There was a crackle and a hiss as the normal communications failed them, and Jason called "Dad? Say again?! Your transmission broke up - DAD?"

"Normal communications down!" Rocky reported. "That has dropped out of the loop completely – Earthquake, Jase."

"A Vile-quake, more like." Jason pushed LionZord to full speed to get there in time. "We can't allow that in Angel Grove!" Find a solution, find a quick solution. "Cestro? Your Master Power? Can it stop them destroying our base and Angel Grove?" he said, suddenly remembering the irony of the Aquitian holding the Power of Earth.

It was Zack who pointed that out, wasn't it? And for a moment there was an overwhelming stinging sensation in his eyes as tears fought to be shed in private.

"I am unaware of my limitations in this regard, but it is imperative that I try," Cestro announced over the Ninjetti link. "We cannot afford to lose our base or the Council of the Wise."

*Or our home,* Jason added privately to himself. "Thank you. We'll deal with Vile when we get there. It will not be long."

"I hope not. Billy is hard pressed and requires assistance." Cestro replied calmly. "Teleporting to ground level now."

And with that he ceased communication, leaving Jason in charge of trying to work out how to back up Billy, take out the immediate threats and protect their home with their limited resources.

***

"Lateral stabilizers are ... wonky," Skye reported through a bit of a fuzzy head. Blood trickled from a cut, but he had no time to stop it right now. "The bad news is they are coming about to kick our butt again, the good news is that Jason is about to haul us out of the fire."

"Wonky by how many degrees?" Billy asked, struggling to get WolfZord to right itself.

"For god's sake!" Skye exclaimed. "What type of a question is that?" He nearly started laughing. "Off normal yaw to the tune of 34 degrees."

*Target lock … target lock.* The computer alarm warned over the sounds of battle

"Evade, evade!" Billy twisted the controls, but they still took enough of the hit to send them spinning dizzily into the ground with an almighty thump, which tossed them around like beans in a tin.

"Billy?! God! That wasn't good. Billy?" Jason called out, sweeping in overhead "Justin? You still there? Take Rito and I'll handle Zedd. Delphine, you make sure that Divatox stands clear. Gotta give Billy time to recover."

Assuming of course that he could. Wouldn't that just take the biscuit? All their careful planning and their main weapon was taken out before they had a chance to do anything. Jason's eyes widened in horror at his thoughts. So cold and callous they seemed, defending themselves from more hurt. He pushed them away and launched into the fray, trying to warm himself with the heat of battle.

***

"Nearly there … nearly there," Master Vile exclaimed gleefully. "If I should get the Orb, not even the Darkness Visible could stand against me!"

"Reality signature exposed," the computer reported as with a roar of protest the Earth shook and split apart, sending fissures like deadly serpents striking outwards in all directions. The main one, to Master Vile's satisfaction, seemed to speed directly towards the population centre of Angel Grove. "Serves them right! Now … let's get the Orb!" He took his battleship closer to the heaving ground, only then noticing the unsteady blue-clad figure below.

Cestro considered he might as well have been on Aquitar and trying to walk on water for the unsteadiness of the ground beneath him. It was impossible to do anything but stumble and then crawl unsteadily. As the ground ripped he realised immediately the probable consequences, managed to get to his feet carefully and touched his Master Glyph.

"Master Power Erda!"

Immediately the energies in the Earth were apparent to him as if they were blood in his own veins. The unbelievable energies in the quake met and were absorbed by him, as he strained to hold the fissures from their lightning expansion. In his mind he knew that if the Rangers of Earth's families and homes were destroyed, then they would falter. With so much at stake and all of them so key to events, it could mean the end of their resistance to this terrible invasion.

He felt like the twisting was inside of him, that every cell and molecule of his being was being saturated beyond its capacity, wanting to fly apart unless he could find some way to be rid of this energy. However, Cestro was not a Blue Ranger for nothing. Second nature to him were the elemental rules of physics ... transformation of energy. Kinetic energy passed into a transformer, that of himself, could be redirected, but redirected where? He looked up at Master Vile's battle craft and managed a slight smile. "There ..." and raised his hands to loosen the force the villain had released, back at him but magnified a thousandfold.

"Nearly there, nearly there," Master Vile crooned to himself. "Oh yes, bring it up." Never in his very long life had he felt such excitement and trembling anticipation. "Analyse …!" he demanded of the probes. "Analyse and report NOW!"

There was a heart-stopping pause. "Reality node caused by modified Zeo crystal energies. Artefact. Zeo Crystal cluster."

"Zeo … Zeo Crystal?!" Master Vile was incredulous. "WHERE is the ORB!? " He stabbed a finger on the communications channel to hurl abuse at Rita and Zedd when out of nowhere his Battleship was struck with the channelled energy of the very earthquake he had initiated. He was stunned into silence and then roared with protest and outrage as his ship imploded and writhed around him, trapping him in a prison of twisted metal and death.

***

Cestro cried out as the energies tore through him, pain reflecting the agonies of the Earth until they stilled, leaving him a gasping, exhausted wreck in the now quiet desert, with his fallen enemy jutting out of the chasm that was his own handiwork and inadvertent grave.

"Vile," he gasped. "Vile ... destroyed. Orb ... not found." Then he dropped slowly to his knees and pitched forward to lie still in the drifting dust.

***

"Polluter of Waters!" Delphine exclaimed in one of the Aquitians' worst insults directed at Divatox. "You shall not pass."

"And a descendant of a kipper is going to stop me? Think again, fish-girl," Divatox sneered. "You don't stand a chance."

"You will not take the Orb," Delphine said firmly, trying to intercept the Space Sub.

"Oh, so it IS here, is it? " Divatox exulted. "Well done, my little walking sushi bar, you've just condemned this two bit … habitation of vermin to extinction." She would quite cheerfully level this place just for old times' sake.

What was that? Vile was destroyed? Well, that made the race that much more interesting.

"I will have it," she said aloud. "Then I won't need anyone to get me the Power I need." She smiled behind her mask. "And then, sister Dimitria, there will be answers, MY answers and no MORE of your infernal questions!" With a fervour born of a gnawing need for triumph, Divatox swung in to attack Angel Grove with the battle frenzy of a ravening pirate horde.

***

"You alright there, Billy? Billy, come on man, answer me?" The familiar voice persisted despite his attempts to remain in the realms of blissful unconsciousness. The Blue Wolf Ninjetti groaned. His leg hurt with a dull worrying ache, but was being drowned out by the crawling lights in front of his eyes. Initially he thought he was blind or something. There had been an explosion, a bright flash next to his face, and when he came round there had been a blinding brightness, which turned out to be the sun piercing into the cockpit of the downed Zord. When he moved he realised that the crawling lights seemed to be a part of that larger light and things were not as bad as they looked.

*Wait a moment…*

He frowned, trying to track down that elusive thrill of thought, that sensation he had come to recognise as the precursor to an important realisation.

"Billy? Are you all right? Come in!" That was Trini's voice with more than a little undertone of fear in it.

"I'm fine," he said automatically, realising his mouth was a bit dry. What was that thought? There was a thought there and it had glided out of reach.

He tried to sit up and decided maybe he had been a little hasty in saying he was fine.

"Thank god. We were getting worried. Things are going to pieces up here; we need all the help we can get. Rocky thinks they are only now getting ready to hit us full force and we are down to half our number!" Trini's voice managed to contain the dreadful urgency only by immense control.

Light against Light, that was the thought. "Where do you never look for something? In the light you are using to find it." He spoke aloud. "I've been BLIND … a source of energy that would show up as light? Where would you hide it? Not in the dark, but in the biggest light around. The Sun. The Orb is in the Sun!"

Like all things, it was obvious when you went looking for it. It didn't take much to rewire enough power into his device to check, and sure enough, when he bothered to filter out the actual light a representation of a reality node as bright as a great star beamed out from the corona of the sun. Even the warning, the original Ninjetti warning, was a clue of sorts, hidden in plain sight. "The Sun goes Down. Beware the Darkness Visible!" All this time they had never questioned WHY it was the Sun. Just taken it as a metaphor of coming peril. Stupid, stupid, he should have known better than to assume and here he was at the eleventh hour, making a critical deduction that could have saved all these uncountable lives!

"Then he can't get it. Who could get that?" Skye's voice spoke up, having steadied himself and rid himself of débris.

"I'm not underestimating him." Billy replied darkly. "The Darkness Visible has met our every move as if he had known it from the start. Nevertheless, whilst the Zeebeedees are fixing us, we best tell the Mentors."

"You … you sure?" Skye asked, a shudder running up his spine at that moment. Probably reaction from the crash.

"What else can we do?" Billy asked, pushing up unsteadily. "I can reach Zordon at least, he is Ninjetti." He took a deep breath, hoping that Zordon had heeded their warnings of a potential traitor in the Council of the Wise. "Zordon, it's Billy; the Orb is in the Sun, actually in the sun itself. I'm really hoping the Darkness Visible cannot get it there."

"Well done, Billy, I do not believe that it can. Master Ninjetti Ba'rak would not have placed it somewhere easier for this evil entity to reach." Zordon sounded pleased. "All we must do is bar its way and we will have succeeded!"

Billy relaxed a little. "Rocky, we'll rejoin you all the moment the Zeebeedees have patched us up." He spoke up, also passing that to Trini. "Hold on up there … there is an end to this!"

"I hope so, Billy, because I'm not sure how much longer we can keep this up."

Trini's voice came over the Ninjetti link before she disappeared into battle once more.

***

Overhead Divatox, Rita and Zedd were taking on Jason and Delphine and being beaten back as, with the destruction of Master Vile, they lost an important point of cover and firepower. During Billy's recovery period, the Red Lion and White Shaserrel Ninjetti had double-teamed them effectively, creating a barrier that pushed Divatox into a brief retreat, and Lord Zedd into panic.

"Retreat!" Zedd bellowed. "The Orb! Let's get out of here!"

"No!" Rita shrieked back, her focus destroyed. "My Father! They will pay for what they have done to him ... my father!"

Zedd didn't give a damn about Rita's father. All he could see was that if a single Master Ninjetti could bring down Master Vile's space fortress, then what chance did they stand against two of them? Three, if you counted that pesky DolphinZord which was bouncing around here somewhere. If the Orb wasn't here, what was the point of hanging around?

"Rita.." He tried being reasonable, which he found to be a bit of a strain. "Is this is what your father would have wanted?"

"Yes! He would expect me to wade through freshly spilt blood! To destroy and annihilate, to leave a mark of terror and desolation in the hearts of his killer to commemorate his passing!" Rita was filled with an anguished blood lust. "They will all DIE for this!"

"But the Orb ..." Zedd interrupted her tirade and then froze as Rita whirled on him, magic wreathing her hands and glowing in her eyes.

"For better or worse ... HUSBAND!" she spat. "If you will not join me in avenging my family, then you are no husband of mine."

It was then, a little late, that some of Rita's history flooded back to him that had seemed so laughably distant in the past and a cheerful exaggeration of her court at best. Strongest wielder of the witch-magic in this aeon, in her prime she had enslaved planets with a single, unbelievably complex magic working. It was hard to fathom after she seemed unable to penetrate the
protections of Earth. But then if the Orb was here - that would explain why this backward, technologically and Power-deficient planet had stymied her legendary abilities. Not that he had any longer to think about it than that, because in that moment witch-power crackled around him and with a scream of pain and protest he was sucked into the nearest magical reservoir - his Z staff. As it clattered to the floor with a metallic tinny clang, Rita turned with a feral and completely insane smile.

"Now then – let's see about destroying them all," Rita announced, no longer concerned with personal safety or anything but gratifying her need for vengeance. "Full power to attack them both and grind this place to dust and bone!"

"Rita and Zedd have lost it!" Elgar said excitedly. "The old witch has put all her power into attack."

"This is not good!" Divatox growled. "I don't want to ride in on her funeral party."

"But she's winning!"

Indeed it seemed like the Ninjetti Masters were taken aback by this sudden recklessness and being beaten back towards the suburbs of Angel Grove. "Now a VICTORY party I'll happily crash." Divatox said in a u-turn of allegiance. "Let's beat these Ninjetti! Fire missiles ... fire everything you have got!"

There was no way they could protect all of Angel Grove, not from an attack that would have been better viewed as the climax of a science fiction blockbuster. Missiles escaped past them and every time they did, Jason felt the guilt of it like a stabbing pain. Houses tumbled into flames and Jason glimpsed in one moment, way beneath him, the sprawled body of someone. Someone young, no other details, just a lifeless form, hair splayed out in the dust. He hoped, he prayed she was already dead because in the next moment, the building collapsed, burying the figure in a blazing rumble. He felt as if he had been punched in the gut, hard. People were DYING here. Innocent people. God, he used to walk that street on his way to Angel Grove High, maybe it had been someone he knew! Even someone he had known just from walking past and maybe even waved at, what had THEY known or cared about galactic threats? All they had known was the terror of an innocent involved in a war and destruction they had no knowledge about and had died, a sacrifice to a greater good they didn't even understand!

Lives wasted, ruined. Jason swallowed, trying to rid himself of a burning emotion that could not decide whether it would be guilt or anger.

And every moment somewhere, someone died in this war. Not a warrior but an innocent who hadn't chosen this path as they had, who as Rangers they had sworn to protect above their own lives. How had it come to this? How?

"Justin! The Power Chamber has some heavy defences," he gritted out, trying to see past the anger and the cold image that seemed to have burned itself on his vision.

"Get to one of the laser cannons and ... see if you can back us up here. We don't have enough punch!"

Justin, knowing when they were really outclassed, replied in an affirmative and the DolphinZord leapt out of the fray.

"He is going to be too late," Billy sent, monitoring from their crash position. "Jase, by the time he gets there, you'll be over the centre of Angel Grove."

"Then I'll use my Master Power," The Red Lion Ninjetti said grimly, reaching for his glyph.

"No, wait, Jason of Earth!" Delphine's voice rang out. "Your power is of Fire. This is dangerous to use where there are so many people. Mine is of air ... any destruction I wreak will begin and end with my command whereas fire might do our enemies' work for us."

"Good point." Jason knew when to back down. There was always the possibility that, like with Zack, the effort required might overwhelm them before they could stop what they had unleashed. The thought of fire raging through Angel Grove was not a pretty one. "Your call, Delphine; make it a good one!"

Delphine inclined her head. "Master Power Oless!" She summoned the power of the Air and it bent to her will so easily, twisting and spiralling to her as her telepathic powers reached out to enlist its aid.

The spiralling shape of a tornado seemed to spring out of nowhere, given colour and substance by the smoke and debris it pulled into itself. As yet it was nothing, but as Delphine concentrated the twisting thing of air grew and expanded until it roared, pushing at both Rita's and Divatox's craft with the might of a hurricane and was directed upon pushing them away.

Jason was hard pushed to control his Zord – and he was shielded from the buffeting force. The energy that had to be in that whirling tornado was staggering. "Push them out of Angel Grove … get them out!" he encouraged over the link.

Slowly, inexorably the space-faring destroyers were being repelled and Jason felt like letting out a whoop of triumph as not even their best attempts to fire on them or the city came to anything.

"Begone, Defilers of air and waters!" Delphine's voice rose, as did the intensity of her tornado force. "Be gone and trouble the Ninjetti no more!"

The sight was truly incredible. Like the finger of some vast wrathful deity the tornado, roaring, it seemed, with the righteous wrath of their many victims, swayed and then flicked at the crafts of Rita and Divatox. With effortless ease, that immense force sent them hurtling back up out of the atmosphere with such speed that they began to disintegrate as their ships reached and then surpassed escape velocity.

Out of control they tumbled out through space, too concerned with their own survival to worry about anything else or be a further threat.

Which left the Ninjetti with one problem removed and one problem gained.

"It's … so strong!" Delphine gasped out, her usually unshakeable voice trembling with strain. "It's … fighting … me …"

"Oh man, last thing we want is that thing loose in the city." Jason stared. It was hypnotic ... mesmerising in its raw power. Maybe that was why people got involved in causes he could not comprehend having any attraction. Because they were mesmerised by power rather than content. He tried to get his thoughts to behave. He knew it was a defence against these shocking events, but he didn't have time for his mind to blank out on him like that. "Push it to the desert; then you can let it go and it will collapse!"

"I shall … endeavour … to … not … hit the ... Power Chamber," Delphine said and the fatigue showed in her voice as she herded the pillar of tormented, angry air towards the desert and safety.

It was only then that Jason suddenly said aloud, "Wonder what happened to Justin?"

***

The Darkness Visible tensed, anticipation swelling within its amorphous form. Now? Not another tedious casualty report from his Chosen, but what he was waiting for?

*Incoming Communication … Sender unregistered.*

Yes! FINALLY! "Open communications," he ordered.

The channel crackled a little. " Lord Zha'kha-rhee'aa, we have received a communication from the Wolf Ninjetti. This may not be news you receive well."

"Continue," the Darkness Visible said with irritation.

"It appears the Orb of Order has been placed within the sun's corona. Zordon and my fellow members of the Council of the Wise believe it will lie there safe from your interference." The voice shook a little.

"And you too cannot see how I could fetch it from such a resting place? But still you fulfil your part of the bargain." The Zha' Kha-rhee'aa laughed. "Truly the Aquitians are an honourable race," he said with heavy irony.

"I believe the Prophecy," the Aquitian mentor said simply. "The Shahin Tara Zed will be swallowed by Darkness. It is fated that you will succeed. Therefore I protect my people with our … covenant."

"You are wise to trust in me. I have a way, and I believe a means now I know what has to be done," the Darkness Visible replied. The safety of one world? It was nothing to what he could do when he had the Orbs and mastered them both. "If you would seek not just safety but good fortune for Aquitar, create whatever destruction and havoc you can upon our enemies … as you flee. For this I will reward you and yours well." He was playing the mentor skillfully. How easy it had been to learn his ways when he had them ... how much of doubt and darkness existed within him even then. Alesto had lived a long time with the portion of knowledge that told him and his line the greatest weapon of the Ninjetti would fail at the last. So easy to use that as a stepping stone into his mind and discover under that control a surprising emotional immaturity that could be twisted so easily. Twisted to make Alesto, stalwart of the Council of the Wise, turn traitor and believe he was doing it because it was the right thing to do.

"I will endeavour to fulfil your expectations for the sake of my people," Alesto replied coldly, ended the transmission and the Darkness Visible gave into delighted laughter.

***

Cestro staggered back to the Power Chamber, dazed from his exertions with the Master power. He felt so … drained. He was usually in control of his thoughts and was not used to them being so clouded and difficult to focus. For a moment he thought the sounds of explosions were from the battle or products of an overtaxed mind, but he smelled drifting smoke. Hallucinations were rarely that thorough. Smoke ... fire, coming from the Power Chamber!

He broke into a shambling run, forcing his fatigued body to respond, and stumbled into the darkness.

Something clattered on the floor near to him and he threw himself away instinctively, flinching from it, only just clearing the flash of bright energy that blinded him and tossed him back against the wall. He sensed rather than heard or saw someone pass him, pausing for a long moment over him as his skin crawled with utter tension at his vulnerability and then whoever it was exited, leaving him to push himself unsteadily up. Cestro's eyes watered painfully and he tried to rub the blurred vision away with the back of his arm. There was a strange disturbing realisation - the presence had felt … familiar; he wiped away the stinging

The inside of the Power Chamber drifted with dust and smoke and lights flickered, illuminating the devastation in small, brief, painful bursts of vision.

Cestro nearly tripped over a piece of metal, ignoring the tight sensation of heat in his skin that indicated the flash grenade had singed him more than just a little.

One of the Mentors had done this to them! Betrayed their position, betrayed Billy's deduction and signalled the doom of Earth. They had to stop him! His reasoning was arrested by a dim glimmer of blue material, covered by a shroud of the white dust. The hand twisted backwards was so still and young …

"Justin?" Cestro weaved unsteadily, as much from shock as from residual hurt and exhaustion. "JUSTIN!"

The young form was a husk. Pale and empty of any semblance of life, it having drained away in a thick pool of dark accusing blood. It was like a hideous fracture in the ways things should be. Justin, a dynamo of energy, his perpetual motion … stilled by a traitorous hand. The Aquitian's normally imperptuable expression was stricken with raging emotions, vivid and bright, so wrong to be gleaming in his gentle eyes. "Who did this?" he asked the air. "Who DID this?"

"Alesto …" came a weak voice from behind a computer bank. Lillian DeSantos pushed herself up and stood, favouring her right leg and coughed to clear her throat of choking dust.

"… just … walked in to the console … and Justin realised something was wrong. He tried to stop him, but could not - too strong and he just … killed him … Madre de Dios … just cut him down … in front of us all!"

"Alesto?" That was more wounding than anything. A surge of reflected shame and guilt swept over the Blue Ranger of Aquitar. It couldn't be true, they trusted him! They were devoted to him, and he had been the worst kind of traitor!

He stood a moment, not ready to accept the full extent of the devastation around or inside of him. The presence over him had felt familiar. He could not deny the truth. He clutched his spirit crystal, calling for the wisdom and clarity of the Celepha, his spirit animal, before sending.

*This is a message for all Ninjetti. The Aquitian Mentor Alesto has turned traitor. Be warned, he should be considered dangerous and of hostile intent."

Rocky picked up the message and felt the shock hit his system. "But he was in the Power Chamber …"

The pain of horror and anxiety was so sharp that Rocky now knew why it was referred to as being stabbed in the back. It felt so literal, a betrayal that robbed him of breath. All this time they had thought Phantom to be somewhat paranoid and that the Council of the Wise was incorruptible by their nature of being the Council of the Wise. More shocks were to come, and he forced himself to listen as Alesto's mind voice continued.

"I regret to inform you that in his escape he has seriously damaged our base of operations. Casualties are as yet unknown save for one confirmed fatality." There was a significant pause as if Cestro was trying to compose himself. "That is the Blue Dolphin Ninjetti, Justin of Earth."

"No!" Tommy nearly missed his aim, nearly spun out of control, as he heard his own instinctive denial echoed around the Ninjetti link.

Too young to die, too young ... not even on the front lines … All their attempts to keep him safe, and he had fallen to the hand of someone he had trusted.

'There is no safe place in war,' his falconspirit echoed inside as he struggled to deal with the shock and prevent himself from being killed in the process. One slip, and the Falcon would fall to the mobbing black crows of the Nid-hi ships.

"So young ..." Tommy said aloud, his mind turning irresistibly to speculation and what ifs. He felt his throat close tight with burning emotion as he imagined Justin challenging his opponent with that total confidence that bad things did not happen to good people. That total confidence he had shown when he was a ranger, that no-one could get REALLY hurt, that the whole thing was just a big adventure full of wonder and dangerously exciting incidents and experiences.

He could SEE it as if he had been there, Justin challenging Alesto with that belief in his own immortality, for a moment certain everything would be fine.

It nearly destroyed him to even consider the fleeting moment in which Justin may have realised he was going to … going to die.

His eyes burning now, Tommy shied away from that empathy-induced horror as he felt also the cold clench of fear for his family. "David … Sam … Dad ..."

He had brought them there, thinking it safe for them and now they could be lost … like … Justin. They had been in the Power Chamber. How much damage had there been? Were they hurt or injured or their lives taken, too, by a traitor's escape? For all his training and preparation, that knowledge shook him to the core and across space many of the Ninjetti Masters wavered in their defence.

"Fall back towards Earth and regroup!" Rocky called out across the link, as ragged holes appeared in their lines.

"Everybody up ... there are massive energy surges in their big cruisers. They'll go right through us the way we are now! Allies fleet, withdraw to Earth and see if you can restore functions in the Power Chamber – your weapons are not effective against the Nid-hi and they are bringing out the big guns now." They would not get to Earth and destroy it. If he could find a way, they would not – and they still had their final weapon, didn't they?

Or did they have more traitors? Rocky's normally cheerful expression was darkened by anger. "And if anyone sees Alesto, I really think he should be stopped by whatever means you feel are necessary." The tone of his mind made it very clear he was not going to be too picky about what condition Alesto would be in when he was stopped.

***

Cestro pulled himself up, or tried to at the very least. The knowledge of this filled him with guilt in such a way that only an Aquitian could feel. Tight, internal and dangerous. He reached instinctively for the telepathic private reassuring touch of Delphine, sensing her exhaustion and distress.

"We are betrayed, love.* Such gentle private emotions in the midst of destruction.

Delphine's thoughts were tired yet resolute. "It is down to us … to me to purge the Aquitian race of this dishonour. I have him on my display and I will stop him."

"No! Delphine, he is too dangerous and he will use lethal force! He has already." Cestro stopped, knowing that was the wrong argument to use to his wilful mate.

"Killed an innocent, broken one of the Aquitian Sacred Laws. Defiled the very precepts we trained so hard and strove for so long to defend." Delphine sounded unshakeable in her decision. "I am, for all that I am a Ninjetti Master, first and foremost the White Ranger of Aquitar, and you know what that means."

"No, Delphine, please… no," Cestro pleaded with her. He could imagine her eyes, fierce and bright with unshed tears as she sped after the escaping Mentor. A dread akin to that which he had felt seeing that crumpled shape on the floor of the power chamber, in the instant before recognition of a terrible unalterable reality.

"The White Ranger has the skill, the White Ranger has the responsibility. Alesto should know that I will not betray the Duty he instilled into my very heart," Delphine replied, a sense of fatalistic calm seeping into her mindvoice.

"I cannot let you go, Delphine." Cestro called to her across space.

"And you will not. For I will come to you when it is over, a soul seeking its other half – one way or another." Delphine targeted the small fleeing ship. "The honour of Aquitar will be restored – until then, my love."

And she drew her contact away with a feather light caress on his mind before she turned to face her one-time Mentor.

"Alesto of Aquitar! Stand and be judged!" She hailed the ancient Aquitian in a crisp voice. "You stand accused of being a traitor to not just the Oceans of Aquitar, but the galactic Seas of space. Return for judgement."

There was a pause and then that familiar voice that had so often guided the Rangers of Aquitar from danger spoke. "What I have done has been for the good of Aquitar. The weapon of the Ninjetti will fail, it is written … and the enemies of the Darkness Visible will be swallowed. This will not happen to Aquitar. I have vowed to protect my world."

It was hard to not accept those words, hard to remember that he had given away vital information and was even now hurrying to the side of their Enemy. For so many years the words of the Mentors had been immutable wisdom; it was a wrench of pain to break from the habit of obedience.

"At the expense of the rest of the free galaxy?" Delphine challenged. "This is a crime that you admit freely?"

"The ends justify the means. The Ninjetti are prophesied to fail. It is logical to preserve what aspect of security I can for my planet," Alesto replied in a cold voice.

Delphine was horrified, experiencing in that moment the terrible disillusionment that comes when a child realises their parent is indeed not infallible and makes their first grievous error in front of them. "And in doing so violate the Sacred Laws. You took an innocent life with deliberate aforethought. You know the consequences."

It seemed so strange to be doing this in the middle of battle, where life and death boiled around them without the courtesy of discussion.

Alesto sounded weary. "I will not commit Kinshini, I have stayed true to my Duty to Aquitar."

"But not to your Duty to the Power itself. You are a tool of Darkness and if you will not, then I must carry you to the Waters Beyond in my thought." Delphine spoke the ritual phrase that unlocked that secret training, her heart bidding farewell to Cestro as she did so.

"Delphine!" For the first time, Alesto sounded surprised and shocked.

"You taught me this. A White Ranger is the one who is prepared to die for the greater good, for not just those they love, but for ideals and Duty." Delphine shuddered, coughing as the subconscious command took hold and her eyes practically glowed.

This was the reason for the elaborate formality and exaggerated control of the Aquitian race; because of an extension to their telepathic ability that if uncontrolled, or unleashed in rage, could kill another of their race with the force of their mind. From childhood it was trained out, but in those trustworthy enough, the leaders of the Rangers, they were taught the Kinshini – a method to unleash the full telepathic potential of the Aquitian mind.

But once unleashed that was the end, and so Delphine, glowing with the light of a wakening mind, shrugged off her body and swooped, elegant in her soul-flight as the Shaserrel that was her animal spirit, across the intervening space and with determination dived at the Aquitian mentor and ripped his dark, shadowed mind from his body with all the righteous energy she could muster.

Strangely he did not fight, he did not even shield. It was as if it was a release from a terrible burden of hopelessness that had formed a canker in his being for too long to bear.

She set the essence free and felt her own dissolve into the Waters Beyond. Her body had no energy to take her back, she had no where to go except …

Fading, fading fast, called by a beacon of love for her, a lonely candle in the fast approaching darkness she reached …

Cestro dropped to his knees and seemed to mouth the word 'Delphine' before collapsing completely as Rocky reported her death to the Ninjetti Link, and that of the Aquitian mentor and betrayer, Alesto of Aquitar.

***

"Initiate, my lord?" Ilana the Silver Nid-hi asked, weary but elated from the long battle. Finally they would use their own master weapon. A crude form that had begun as the project of Dark Spectre and had taken the Nid-hi to hone and perfect under the guidance of the Darkness Visible into a weapon the like of which had never been seen in all their conquests.

She smiled and brushed the gleaming silver of her mane back from her sweat-dampened fur. They would win. She had seen THEIR weapon and in comparison, the frail human was like a speck of space dust falling into darkness.

"Initiate," the Darkness Visible agreed, his orders crisp as he set his own agenda into play. "Form point. Attack their Base on the lunar satellite."

"But my Lord, is it necessary? " Ilana asked, hesitating a little. The Ninjetti forces were fielded. Only wounded and non-warriors were there, she was sure. She could see no honour ... no tactical sense in attacking a base that could potentially be converted for their own use.

"Do not question me, my Chosen." The entity issued a mild warning. "I have my reasons. Do you presume to imply that I should justify them to you?" There was a piercing core to the warm golden voice she had never heard before.

"Of course not, my Lord, we shall see to it immediately," she replied hastily. "I will form our forces into a suitable escort for your triumphant approach."

"See that you do so, my Chosen." The voice replied as if whispering in her ear behind her and seeing the increasing doubts she had experienced ever since - ever since she had looked into the eyes of that alien Ninjetti and not seen evil in their depths. She shuddered, but immediately began issuing orders.

The Ninjetti fell back, bloodied and exhausted from the long battle in space. The long-awaited final push was on its way and fear preceded it like a tidal wave.

"Everyone!" Rocky was sending urgently to any Ninjetti Spirit Warrior there was, injured or otherwise. "Get up here now! We need all power to the front line ... the Enemy is ... is doing something. What the hell ARE they doing?" Rocky looked at his readouts with a sort of horrified dismay.

In the depths of space, massive amounts of energy arced around the surfaces of the vast matt black battle cruisers as they transformed, linking segment to segment in a stately terrifying dance.

Enterprising Ninjetti, hoping to find them vulnerable in this transition, flew in, managing a few shots before they were set upon by the remainder of the Nid-hi Legions. Long enough though to discover that the enemy weapon was force-field shielded. As they were helpless to prevent its assembly, it was the Ninjetti of Earth who recognised the shape.

"Serpentera ..." Kim whispered as the black dragonish head morphed into place and immense energy charges played over its specially coated 'dragon-hide' and the force field it generated, making it an inky black shadow sinuously moving in the heart of tortured light.

"That thing makes Serpentera look like a joke snake out of a cracker," Trini replied, her heart pounding fast. There was no WAY Skye could beat this thing. Suddenly the symbolism seemed so terribly appropriate. Dragon and Phoenix – how had Billy known?

"The bigger they are…" Tommy responded wearily, all his resolve seemingly sucked from him with the appearance of this true manifestation of the Darkness Visible.

Acutely now he felt the lack of their link back to Earth. He felt he needed something to stabilise his decisions and to ground him. But the Power Chamber was destroyed, all the family he had somewhere in there ...

"Billy, got any weakness on it yet?" he asked hopefully. *Don't let us down Billy; we need you to come up with an answer,* he thought to himself as he waited anxiously.

The Blue Wolf Zord was climbing out of Earth atmosphere along with Jason and the Red LionZord. Cestro, by all reports, had been rendered unconscious by his grief for Delphine and seemed to not hear the summons. There was nothing they could say that even seemed to reach him.

"Running analysis now, Tommy," Billy replied tersely, frowning at the data stream flowing across the screen in front of him.

"We are going to need that data soon," Rocky warned. "Nid-hi force on intercept with lunar base."

Kat's down there, his mind kept telling him. So is Aisha and Adam; everyone who is really important to you is in danger. "Oh god."

"It is time to invoke the Shahin Tara Zed," Zordon's voice echoed through the link. "The Darkness now truly is Visible, incarnate in this form. Invoke the Star Phoenix Ninjetti to his destiny."

Billy paused a moment and his mind recoiled from even that possibility; with all instinct, with all parts of his being, the destroying, the murder of a friend was just unacceptable. It was the hardest thing he had done to go against the counsel of their mentor.

"No," he replied in a low whisper. "No, Zordon. I will not."

"You must! It is his destined path, Billy." Zordon's voice showed signs of strain. "You would let all die for the sake of one life? Billy, you have always trusted my judgement before, why not now?" The Eltarian tried to force him to a decision, believing that at the last the Wolf Ninjetti struggled with what needed to be done. He KNEW, with a completeness born of ages of study and research, the knowledge of the galaxy he had studied, that this HAD to happen. He felt the sorrow of the price, but all of the Council of the Wise understood implicitly what sacrifices had to be made.

"Because. It's not right, Zordon. Doesn't feel right." Billy nearly shouted, clenching his fists, aware of Skye's terrible stillness next to him, the Star Phoenix Ninjetti waiting as if a blade was against his throat.

"Doesn't FEEL right?" That was a different voice. C'haal's echoing roar tore at his confidence. "Are you a warrior or not? Death is a part of the cycle! It has been written longer than Earth has had history that the Shahin Tara Zed would be invoked once the Darkness had manifested its Avatar form! You think you know better? Put aside you misguided sentimentality and remember your Duty to the galaxy!"

"C'haal ..." Zordon interrupted, knowing his Ranger better than the Drakin Mentor. Billy did not need hostility, and he was under enough pressure. Too much would force the young Ninjetti down the wrong path. "Enough."

"No. It needs to be said," C'haal replied tersely. "This is our last hope. Our base is destroyed, our forces decimated for all their bravery, and he REFUSES to invoke our only weapon!"

"You will destroy us all." Rhamahada spoke up "The Prophecy must be fulfilled. It is Written and cannot be denied!"

There was a chorus of agreement from the other mentors that Billy could not tolerate. "Enough! Enough!" he snapped at them. "Just stop. Stop." His voice became quiet. He didn't need this, not before the end was due to break its devastation upon them all.

"You will invoke him?" That was Dimitria's questioning tone.

"No," Billy replied into the silence and with a pass over his spirit crystal his hand blocked incoming messages from the link and took one brief moment to feel his eyes burn at the injustice of being pressured like this when he was tired … so tired, and his leg hurt with god knew what injuries. How could he be sure he was making the right decision when he was so tired and they were so certain? Wouldn't it be easier just to follow their direction as he had for so long? No, if he were going to condemn Skye to death, it would not be because he would be too tired to think for himself. He owed his friend a decision at the very least, rather than a copout.

Why me? He asked again and then sighed as the same answer came back. If not you, then who else?

"Billy?" a tentative voice interrupted his momentary reverie. Skye was watching him closely, his bright clear blue eyes scanning his face anxiously. "Not that I'm not grateful, but … remember our agreement? Please don't let the others die if I could save them?"

Billy gave a noise of frustration and his fingers clattered rapidly over his computer interface keyboard. "I have my reasons," he replied, abruptly signalling the discussion was over. He could sense the mentors trying to reach him and refused to listen in case it eroded the certainty of his decision.

"Billy … I know you don't want to ... but ..." Skye sighed, seeing a familiar quiet stubbornness settle around his friend, more impenetrable than any armour. This was the last thing he needed, and he bowed his head. He could not beg to die. He hated that weakness in himself, but he did not feel strong enough to beg for his life to end; for all he knew it was like as not an inevitable consequence of this conflict. He could tell that Billy would not be moved on this, though, rightly or wrongly.

Billy frowned as he completed the programming, noticing the movement even amongst his concentration. "Skye, you have trusted me with everything else, up to and including your life. You think I would betray not only all my other friends but that trust as well?"

Skye looked towards him a moment and their gazes locked for a brief instant in a wordless communication. "No, Billy … you wouldn't." The Star-phoenix Ninjetti remembered acutely what it was that hurt his friend the most in their argument. Questioning his commitment in view of all the sacrifices he had made, what he had endured.

"Then trust me." Billy looked at him seriously. "I'm worried, Skye. Every move we have made, the Darkness Visible has been prepared for. You really think that he has not prepared for our counter attack? The problem is that right now I don't know what the end game is going to be like, and if you are our ultimate weapon, then you may be needed for that. Understand?"

"But Zordon and the others seem so sure," Skye said softly, hating himself for having to point that out again.

A chill ran down Billy's spine. What if he was making a deadly, desperate error? Had he ever gone against Zordon's counsel before? Had the mentor ever been wrong before? He had never felt so alone as now when this decision could mean so much for so many.

"I know," the Blue Wolf Ninjetti replied and focused his attention on the monstrous dragon form that could half wrap the moon it was attacking. His hand hovered over the Star Phoenix glyph that burned on his chest armour, flashing blue fire as he moved … and yet, it stayed, the Power dormant as he refused to invoke that Power yet, even in the face of Prophecy.

***

"Come on!" The Darkness Visible murmured from his personal area in the head of Serpentera Reborn. "Come on, First Warrior of Phaedos, your pride has to be sticking in your throat at this cowardly tactic … come on, I know you want to …" Did he have to engineer EVERYTHING? Had the Ninjetti become cautious in the aeons he had been gone? A brief sigh and then he opened a broadband communications channel.

"Surrender the Orb to me and I will not destroy your lunar base." He spoke in that golden, reasonable voice. "Have the Ninjetti lost all sense of reality? I see now that the vaunted honour of the Ninjetti has deteriorated to nothing more than Khal'az Kr'aa!"

To most of the fleet that last word meant nothing, but to Dulcea and some of the mentors it was an insult that warranted blood spilt in its answering.

"I cannot allow this to occur," Dulcea said, her eyes flashing, her outrage pushing the limits of her weary patience. "They must not attack the Moonbase. Most of our wounded are there. I'm going into complete stealth and I should be able to locate a weak spot."

"Dulcea, I'm not sure if that is ..." Tommy began as the OwlZord shimmered out of sight as the battle continued. "Oh dammit …"

If the Darkness Visible had not been specifically watching Dulcea's craft, looking for that very disappearance, he might well have been unprepared. As it was, he smiled and for the first time called up his full Power and let it flow through the Dragon form, the electrical arcing tinged with red, a shimmer as the movements of the Serpentera Zord became more organic, more … alive as he breathed his own spark into its metallic hulk.

The shift was sudden. In a strange shift so swift it appeared as illusion it transformed from a gargantuan machine to a sentient monster that writhed like a strip of Darkness torn from space itself. The eyes, which had been mere stylised forms of metal before, became filled with the amorphous colours that had swirled in the entity of the Darkness Visible.

A moment too late the warning was shouted through the link.

"Dulcea! Get away from it!" J'shaar called out in warning, having recognised the eye patterns from their close encounter on the mission to rescue the Council of the Wise.

The Black Dragon's head swung around, glistening in the reflected light of the planets - and in the corona of the force field, flickering with blood lightning, a shape of invisibility was discovered and the head twisted with the speed of a striking snake, snapped down with metallic teeth, crushing close on the Master Ninjetti's OwlZord.

"Dulcea!" Jason could barely even gasp as a twisted, mangled Zord flickered into visibility, caught carefully between the dragon's jaws. "Dulcea …"

"Well now, Ninjetti." The insinuating voice echoed through their Zords. "It seems I have a message for one of you in particular. It's interesting what information can turn out to be so useful, even if Alesto - sadly no longer with any of us … saw no value in telling me the trivialities of who was with whom. I say, and stand proven, that all information is useful." The Darkness Visible's voice sounded rather good-humoured as if this were a mere distraction to it, not life and death.

"To business then. Jason of Earth! I address you out of all the Master Ninjetti. You have the Master Power of Fire. You can reach into the Sun itself and draw out the Orb. The offer is simple. Do this and you all live. Don't, and the first one to die … slowly … will be the love of your life." He made it all sound so reasonable.

"No! Jason, NO!" Dulcea screamed out from the crippled OwlZord, in the mouth of the massive black dragon form. She punched futilely at a self-destruct function and cursed genuinely that the thing would not work due to all the damage around it – what by all the Powers was the point of a self-destruct if it didn't bloody work!

Jason looked at the scene, the LionZord floating aimlessly as he screwed up his eyes, trying to hold back hot tears. He couldn't. He COULDN'T! She would never forgive him if he betrayed everything she stood for because he loved her. Personal was not always the same as important. He'd said that to Goldar.

"No …" he whispered, but the broadcast flung his word out across the stars.

"Then I will destroy your Earth. Think of that." The Darkness Visible purred from out of the void of stars, the black dragon's nest. "Billions of lives, the lives you swore to protect destroyed because of you. Let's tell the world, shall we?" There was a momentary pause and a click as communication channels were opened. "People of Earth, say your prayers to whatever deity you wish. I find I have no need of your planet because Jason Scott will not do me the favour of retrieving something that was stolen from me … and he refuses even for the sake of the love of his life. If you doubt my capability, then let us demonstrate on … oooh, I'm sure this red planet can do without at least one moon."

A charge seemed to crawl up Serpentera Reborn, starting from the tail, gaining power until like a whip cracking, the head snapped forward and a sphere of deadly energy was flung out of its forehead, spreading into a disc, into a coruscating wave of destruction that shredded any craft, Ninjetti or Nid-hi that did not flee swiftly enough, then finally Phoebus itself.

It was gone … just … gone. Where the wave had passed, blinding in its release, now vast meteors flung themselves into the surface of Mars, the only evidence that something so disastrous had occurred.

"Dear God." Kim felt her mouth go dry as she envisaged the disintegration of everything she knew and loved in the short moments it had taken to destroy the Martian moon.

"Billy, for god's sake invoke Skye!" Tommy demanded, desperately trying to reach Jason to try and stop him somehow.

"I can't, Tommy! Don't you see, that is what he wants me to do!" Billy protested, not wanting to defend himself before his friends as well as the Mentors.

"What he WANTS is the Orb!" Tommy flared back, impatient in his anxiety.

"No, what he wants is me to expend our last chance on this!" Billy argued. "If I have to spend Skye's life on something, it won't be a trap!"

"Spend ... spend his life?" Tommy hesitated, regretting his vehemence.

"The moment I use him, he will have only a short time and then will die, win or lose," Billy explained quietly as he began typing in commands for his countermove with desperate speed.

"But…" Tommy paused and then swore as he noticed something else.

Jason's resistance had crumbled. His home, his family, his friends ... Dulcea. Earth, that jewel of the heavens he had looked at and vowed to protect. The threat was no empty one, that evidence of destruction had been stunning in its effectiveness, practically bringing the battle to a halt. The Earth was no longer necessary to the Darkness Visible now that the Orb of Reality was discovered in the heart of the sun.

Maybe he would die if he went after it as the Darkness Visible demanded, maybe - but he could not live with that on his conscience. He doubted he could live with Dulcea's death either, but then it would only be him who would suffer, not an entire world.

Dark eyes resolute and full of anger, he invoked his Master Power of Fire, and as the Red Lion Zord became a thing of flames he wheeled it around on a direct course for the heart of the sun, able to stare at its heart, as it called to him, Fire to Fire.

"JASON!" Billy yelled aloud as well as mentally, "For God's sake, someone STOP him! STOP him NOW!"

"How?" Rocky responded, feeling Jason's hurt like a burning coal in his mind but unable to reach him however hard he tried

Billy hesitated and another part of his self died as he said firmly, "Destroy him if it is the only way. Destroy him."

"Jason! Bro … stop this! Jason!" Rocky tried to get through to him as the Red Lion Ninjetti, for the sake of Earth, for the sake of his friends, for the sake of his love streaked into the outer corona of the sun.

Billy was swearing at himself, and everything around him. He had to try and get Dulcea free and take away that threat of hostage manipulation. Maybe this ploy would be enough. The programming he had been doing since the manifestation of the Darkness Visible awaited the enter key to set into motion. Now would have to be the time. Here and now. An image of force field energy fluctuations appeared and he stabbed down with a decisive finger.

"Ninjetti, fall back," he said in a tone of authority that he used when he was implementing a plan. The despair that had filled some of the rangers lifted a little. Was it going to be the Shahin Tara Zed?

No. Out of every Ninjetti Zord streamed the Zeebeedees, the tiny maintenance droids that seemed too small to be a threat, cast out like motes of dust at the vastness of the Dragon avatar form of the Darkness Visible.

"Justin's Legacy." Billy murmured aloud down the Ninjetti link as they loosed a payload of miniature missiles constructed from the Ferian-X Justin had brought at great risk from Triforia at the Enemy fighters and at the black dragon shape blotting out the stars.

Too late the Nid-hi legions tried to fire at them, but it was like trying to stop a swarm of bees by shooting at it with bullets. A few were destroyed, but the fire passed through them as the Zeebeedee programming unerringly guided each missile to a target.

The carnage was terrible. The Nid-hi legions were blindsided by an opponent too small to register as a danger and for a long moment Serpentera Reborn writhed in a boiling sea of explosions and weaknesses until holes flickered in its force field.

The jaw area was targeted and OwlZord was dropped, tumbling out of control, riding the shockwave of the explosions, warped in and secured the damaged Zord and then warped them out of the way of the worst of it.

A great bellow of triumph went up spontaneously around the remnants of the Ninjetti fleet.

"Did we get it? Did we get the Darkness Visible?" Tanya asked excitedly. The glare of light faded and the monstrous dragon writhed, the force field flickering in and out.

"That was fantastic, Billy!" Tommy called out, a lift in his voice and a rekindled spark of hope. "Where on Earth did that come from? Why didn't we know!?"

"I couldn't afford any of the Council of the Wise knowing ... not after what Phantom said. Needed something up our sleeves," Billy murmured and then closed his eyes in an unseen expression of a mental pain. What to do? They had not finished the Darkness Visible, he knew that. He had no other secret weapons save Skye and, god, he was so tired. Then there was Jason. He would not know that Dulcea was safe.

"Rocky, try and get through to Jason again … tell him to leave the damn thing in there," he said, exhaustion sounding in his tone.

"He's locked me out." The Red Ape Ninjetti had been trying over and over. He could do it, but that would mean disconnecting from the others and he couldn't do that! "He's too deep inside for me to reach."

"I'll try and head him off when he comes out," Billy replied and then frowned, noticing an unobtrusive window on his console screen blinking for attention. How long it had it been there? And what was it?

A lifetime ago it seemed, he had set up a search for reference on the phrase Shahin Tara Zed and now, of all times it had returned. Feeling a strange prickle of anticipation and apprehension, he pulled the window up, despite the critical nature of their situation relying on Skye to pilot WolfZord.

It had been a search built on a random thought from rereading the transcript of the Prophecy, and as he skimmed the different meanings of the words in languages and dialects from all over the galaxy and narrowed the search with some more relevant parameters, he skimmed down a page and stopped. He was frozen by the utter simplicity and rightness of it all. An Earth language at that.

"Beta Aquilae – alternative names for this star. 'Alshain' is derived from Persian name for Aquila, Shahin Tara Zed, 'The Star-Striking Falcon'. Or simply 'Striking Falcon'."

The words burned there a moment on the screen as Billy felt that curious blankness that a revelation will sometimes bring, especially when you are weary and over-stressed. All the time the mentors had translated it as Starbird or Star Phoenix, and it was … or could be a Striking Falcon.

As if without his volition, Billy's eyes sought the battle-marked form of the Falcon Zord. There was only one Falcon that he knew of, and his Master Power was of the Lightning Strike, the single powerful blow. The pieces clicked into place in his mind, words from the Prophecy on Triforia coming to him.

"Know that in the ambiguity of Prophecy and Destiny lies salvation, for Words cannot be unsaid. Know that the Words of Prophecy have Power, but their final Power is in how they are read, not in the Word itself."

Would he be swapping Tommy for Skye, though? Was that what he was doing? He shook his head. No, he truly did believe they were being set up; he had a feel of how the Darkness Visible worked now. Skye might not be the one to face the Avatar of the Darkness Visible, but if Tommy did, then if necessary he would be able to quash his counter attack, using Skye if he had to. There was no way that the Darkness Visible would not come out after Jason … and he would come alone, but once he had committed himself to that action, what would he do with Serpentera? Send it on an all-out course of destruction to keep them occupied. That was logical. So.

His mind burning with inspiration, frantic and bright, he sketched out a hasty and desperate plan. But then some of his best plans had been born like that.

"Rocky, I need Tommy and Tanya in a close link," he announced suddenly, his wolf spirit crystal glowing in response to his concentration.

"Got it, Billy. Zordon is still trying to get through to you before it's too late," he said as he contacted the others.

"I know … this time, I've got to go it alone." He was startled to hear Skye murmur behind him. "Spirit Warrior of the Wolf, seek your destiny within the lonely choice and decision upon which all else rests…"

"You think this is it?" Billy asked his friend hopefully, looking for any type of confirmation.

"Hard to see if it could be anything else," Skye replied quietly. "It's falling into place, Billy. Not long now and it will all be over, one way or another."

Billy took a deep breath. "Then let's get on with it. Tommy, Tanya … do you read me?"

"I'm listening in," Tommy replied "We're trying to make an impact on Serpentera's much bigger brother. Having little effect, though." Hidden in that statement was a plea for Billy to either come up with a plan now or something, anything that would help.

"Here." Tanya replied, sounding weary.

"I think I have a handle on what the Darkness Visible's next move is going to be," Billy explained swiftly. "When Jason comes out of the sun, I am betting that he'll cut the Avatar loose to try and distract us, set it to destroy everything it can so he can get to the Orb."

"This is meant to cheer us up?" Tanya said, aghast.

Billy gave a short laugh. "No, it's explaining why I am going to ask you what I am going to ask you. Tanya, I want you to invoke you Master Power and draw together the biggest Ninjetti MegaZord you can. I think with it weakened a little more, that Tommy … Tommy can have a chance to strike with HIS Master Power."

Tommy sounded shocked. "But the Prophecy and the ... and the mentors … won't this fail?"

Billy said firmly, as if he was completely certain. "Skye is not the Shahin Tara Zed ... you are, Tommy. That is the secret of the Prophecy we had to uncover. If you face the Darkness Visible's Avatar, then Skye and I will go after the Darkness Visible itself. If it comes to it, I think he is the only one who could possibly deal with him if it manages to get possession of the Orb."

It was amazing to Billy that they accepted his analysis so easily. He could be wrong … couldn't he?

*Not in this lifetime, love." Trini's voice whispered through the link to him alone.

"Right." Tommy felt a surge of energy run through him. They had a plan. In the dying last moments of the battle, they had a plan! "Tanya, can you do this?" he asked.

"I'll pull in as many as I can … I'm going to need everyone we can get up there ... Anyone even conscious," she said in a determined tone. It was strangely frightening and exhilarating to be so crucial to events. She had noted that the power of the MegaZords she could pull together was exponential to the amount of Ninjetti in there. The whole became much much greater than the sum of all its parts.

"Right, put the word out, Rocky," Tommy said firmly. "All Ninjetti that are conscious and even partially mobile are to get up here immediately. Billy, are you sure you and Skye don't need back up?"

"We'll make do. I'm hoping that the Darkness Visible has expended a fair amount of its Power on animating that monstrosity," Billy replied and Skye nodded in tacit agreement.

"It has put a lot of its energy into animating it," the artist supplied in a soft voice.

"Right." Tommy sounded like he had shed half of his exhaustion. He had direction, focus and a hope that this battle could be ended – and in their favour.

"Listen up!" he sent out across the link. "We are going up against the Darkness Visible's Serpentera, using the biggest ranger Megazord we can muster. Tanya, Yellow Oryx Master Ninjetti, will initiate this. We need everyone close and when we weaken it, we will strike."

"Tommy, this is an unwise course of action." Zordon's voice spoke out. "This is not the way of the Prophecy. We would be wasting effort foolishly and endangering many lives amongst the Ninjetti and those we protect."

There was a long silence from Tommy and Billy held his breath. He did not want to defy his friend, but he could not do things otherwise, not now.

To his surprise, when Tommy spoke it was with a focus and certainty that Billy was not expecting.

"Zordon, I have been trusting my life, and the life of my teammates, to Billy's judgement for years. Part of my job as a leader of the rangers was to know when to rely on the others in the team. You taught me that, Zordon." He paused, examining his own certainties and doubts and coming to an inescapable conclusion. "Billy, we are going ahead with your plan."

"You are sure, Tommy?" Billy couldn't help but question, if only in surprise.

"Are you, Billy?" the White Falcon Ninjetti asked, focussing on manoeuvering close with the other Ninjetti.

"Yes." Billy replied with only the barest hesitation. The complex issues of his emotions surrounding the defiance of the judgement of their mentors did not shake the facts he had assembled in his mind, and the surety of instinct.

"Then I am, too." Tommy replied, with trust implicit in his words as he moved into action, a trust that brought a lump to Billy's throat rather unexpectedly. As careless as Tommy could be with his thoughts sometimes, he could be as generous with his emotions. "Deal with Jason. Tanya, you in position?"

"Ready and waiting." Tanya's voice sounded focused and intense even through the link.

"Go for it," Tommy said and covered Tanya as the process began.

Tanya touched the glyph on her chest and it glowed gold beneath her fingers, warm and bright in the cockpit of her Zord. "Master Ninjetti Power Mannaz!" she invoked, and with a rush of light her awareness spread out, touching the motes of life and Power around her as she focused hard on drawing them together into a warrior gestalt.

Like trying to wake to a greater consciousness, she clawed the fragments of power together, unified into a shape born from her mind and desire. A warrior shape, a bright defender, a fighter … vast and unstoppable. A dragonslayer.

The Zords of the Ninjetti, responding to her inaudible siren call of Power, began to tumble together. Tiny sparkling specks swarmed together as Tanya's mind and spirit strove to bring them all in, lock them all together. Each piece contributed to the group sentience, becoming part of the whole, becoming more as if each individual spark of will joined in total unity of purpose and moved as one. The shape was hazy at first, dreamlike in its definition until Tanya within its heart centre locked the entirety of the Ninjetti warriors into one warrior Zord Entity. Their focus and form a sharp reality now, they turned to face their enemy.

The Dragon writhed, the force field shield flickering in places, momentarily taken aback.

"No! This was not what was meant to happen!" The Darkness Visible cursed, shock making it draw in its power a little. "Should be the - should be the Phoenix, the Shahin Tara Zed of the prophecies!" There were few times in the Zha'Kha-rhee'aa's experience that it had ever been surprised or disconcerted, and this was one of them. Hastily he recalculated his strategy, trying to adjust to this new variable. It was nothing. The original plan could still work. The Dragon Avatar would distract them and hopefully destroy their world and their forces, and he would seize the Orb of Order from the Red Lion Ninjetti.

Then, in bringing the Orb of Chaos in proximity to this prize, BOTH the Orbs would wake and he would be able to bend the Universe … Universes to his will without the limitation of rules or petty things like mortality. The Blue Wolf Ninjetti, he would be of no consequence. How could he hope to stand against the power of the Orbs and himself? Still, best to strike at him first. Eliminate the potential threat if he could, he had sensed some Power in that young warrior. So now, it was time to leave and bring his carefully worked strategy to its ultimate fruition.

"Nid-hi! Attend me!" he summoned his remaining devoted followers to the Dragon Avatar. Some remained outside his call, but most came, drawn by the habit of obedience to his call. They found themselves invaded, tapped, their life spirits feeding the power of the great dragon, tangled in a dark spirit web to its body. Fear mingled with a quasi-religious ecstasy as the lives of the Nid-hi zealots bled into the mechanical veins of Serpentera Reborn, allowing him to withdraw and leave the Avatar functioning as he seized the prize that had consumed his consciousness for aeons. Primal and raw, the life moved within his creation, animated by the sacrifice of his devoted followers as he instilled one simple imperative into the pseudo–consciousness of the Dragon Avatar.

"Destroy our Enemies. Destroy."

So many generations of subtle conditioning and manipulation paid off in a surge of hatred and righteousness that released the Darkness Visible to its own devices, a shadow in the night.

It was strange. Billy kept looking as they headed towards the sun and seeing a single enormous figure and yet his wolfspirit registered 'Pack'. Only he, Skye and Jason were not in the merge. All others were there, blending together, and there was a slow arc of light that all rangers would have found familiar as the final morphing lock down occurred.

"She did it," Billy said, quietly grateful for company as the connection to Rocky had faded, leaving him feeling alone with his decision. "I hope I wasn't wrong ... I really do."

"I don't think so," Skye replied, tensing as he saw a small anomaly on the screen. "And so he makes his move." He said it with a sigh.

A small part of the Dragon's head detached and shot out towards them, and the Star-Phoenix Ninjetti felt a surge of fear grow. "Here it comes …"

"Right … we stop it … him … before he can get to Jason," Billy said firmly, well aware they were more than likely outclassed in terms of weaponry. "Or at least delay him long enough so the Orb can be replaced back in there safely."

"Any ideas how?" Skye asked hopefully as he obediently turned the WolfZord to impose themselves between the Darkness Visible and the sun.

"Not a clue. Distract it and yell like anything to Jason when he comes out?" Billy replied with a shrug.

"I like it. Simple. Direct and above all, our only choice," Skye said drily. "Let's do it."

And Billy wheeled the WolfZord into an uneven battle against the superior might of the Darkness Visible.

***

Fire and a child of fire mingled. There was no danger here, only the joyous light and the epitome of the fantastic energy that had so characterised Jason's life. The Red Lion Ninjetti existed as fire, his Zord a living flame within fire, given shape by his will and barely resisting the glory around him, calling his innermost spirit to join with this greatest of fires. The Sun had a presence to him now, a wonderful presence filling him with welcome and an ecstasy he could not describe or compare with anything he had ever experienced before. It was only Dulcea, Dulcea in danger that kept him from releasing his shape and bleeding into the heart of the Sun. The thought of her a moment from death, crushed in the jaws of a Dragon that could tear apart moons.

Flame to flame, his spirit communed with the Sun and sensed, like a pearl of coolness, the shape of the orb swirling in plasma solar fire. He sought it, and stretched, the LionZord shape of flame seizing the precious irritant in jaws of fire and turned away from the warmth and life to the absolute coldness of space.

Riding a solar flare Jason rose up, bounding up through that arc and leaping outwards away from the light, the fire cooling to solidity once more … to normal senses - and to a black shape coming straight at him and a desperate clamouring voice in his ears and mind!

"Take it back in! Take it back in! We got her free, the others are fighting the Dragon! Take it back in!" Billy yelled again under heavy fire, the WolfZord at bay. They were losing, and losing badly. The Darkness Visible's higher-powered craft was kicking them all over space, and he had the distinct impression he was just passing time before the main event.

"Billy?" Jason was momentarily stunned as he saw the battered WolfZord literally cannoned out of the way by the black craft and he tried to turn, though his protection from the sun was gone. With no need to bargain, he had to right the problem he had caused even if it meant not surviving himself. At least the fire would welcome him.

But he was too late. An impact to his Zord tossed him out into space and he turned and found himself grappled by the Darkness Visible, tendrils of invisible force drawing him in inexorably.

Jason fought, clawed, fired everything he had to get free, but his Power levels were low and for all the damage he inflicted, the LionZord received double for all of Billy and Skye's desperate assistance.

"Can't … can't shake him!" Jason called out, systems going critical around him as he strove to wrest the Orb still secure in LionZord's jaws away from this danger.

"You've got to." Billy attacked again, realising with a sinking feeling he might have to invoke Skye now and reached for the Glyph again, looking across at Skye with a desperate apology in his eyes – and then they were clipped hard enough to throw them around like beans in a tin. Billy hit the console and slid momentarily unconscious to the floor, leaving Skye barely able to help themselves, let alone Jason.

"Jason! You've got to get free. Billy's out of it and ... LOOK OUT!" Skye babbled, wrenching at the fried controls.

A deflected world destroyer blast from the other battle raging behind them in space, spread and hurtled towards them as they all tried to jet clear in a clumsy scramble. A bit further … a bit further … but the grappling Zords were caught in the very edge of the energy, and all Skye heard was a cry from Jason as they were tossed around by the tidal wave of plasma force.

***

The Ninjetti MegaZord Warrior fought the Dragon Avatar with all its might in a bizarre, star- strewn enactment of the legend of St George. There were no superlatives that were meaningful enough to describe the immensity of the construct, or the forces that were involved every time it swung a sword that seemed it could slice the moon, or in the immense spirit Power it wielded.

Still though, the Dragon Avatar was bigger, stronger and vicious with the imperative imposed upon it by the Darkness Visible.

It was strange how the mind of this Ninjetti warrior worked, knowing and sensing as if by instinct the conclusion from the individual minds adding to a whole. It battled, seeing the tell-tale arc of energy rise up the spine of the Dragon and powered up the sword with the Ninjetti Spirit Power that was the only effective weapon against this monster.

The head whipped forward and the sword, in a flash of light sheared the blast AWAY from Earth towards the more distant sun, which would not be harmed.

The dragon roared in frustration, whipping its tail around in a thunderous arc to strike the Ninjetti warrior from its defensive stance. It hit the Zord's side and individual Ninjetti were crushed in the attack, but the whole remained intact. Again and again they battled, loss of individual lives in each strike causing pain and destruction in this cataclysmic struggle, seemingly going nowhere until from somewhere in the united consciousness a thought rose and gathered strength.

When the dragon roared, there had been no force field around the mouth, where they had freed Dulcea.

And someone – Trini, deeply buried in the subconscious of the Megazord – realised the implications of the thought, connected the observation with a possibility she had witnessed in the Prophecy on Triforia:

"In that Darkness no Light exists, but it is swallowed by Darkness. Yea, even that of the Shahin Tara Zed"

Swallow did not mean defeated! It meant literally what it said! The clue had been there all along! The way to finish the Dragon was to fire the Shahin Tara Zed, Tommy, the Arrowhead that was his glyph shape, down its very throat!

The thought percolated, developed and exploded into the Warrior's consciousness and so Tommy found himself detached long enough to invoke the power within him. The Master Power was fuelled by that implicit belief that if it came down to it, the fate of the world, of everything, was down to him. That tortured part of him, grown from the guilt of being responsible for his deeds as the evil Green Ranger, was now showing its positive side. If he could believe he was responsible for nearly destroying the world, he had the capacity for believing he could likewise SAVE his home.

The words were spoken to release his Master Power, and that fierce falcon energy; the force of air and fire, passion and intensity forged himself and his Zord into an arrowhead of White Power. Pure, dazzling and deadly he became the arrowhead as the Ninjetti Warrior Zord carved an arc of energy through space and nocked their final arrow to a bow of starlight.

Sensing the culmination of events the Avatar of the Darkness Visible, Serpentera Reborn, feeding on the lives of Nid-hi wielders of the spirit power, coiled around the void, drawing plasma lightning up its dark serpent spine. Crackling up its throat, lighting the cavernous maw with the energy more akin to the heart of a star, the planet-destroying creature roared, and as it opened its gaping maw the might of the Shahin Tara Zed was loosed from the Warriors bow, channelling the hopes of the weary defenders into the killing point.

Into the fire, into the heart of darkness, hard, resolute energy focused in Tommy's will, diamond hard, piercing and unstoppable. Into the jaws of Darkness itself, Tommy yelled a ringing battle cry that resounded through the Ninjetti collective. He could NOT be stopped! He would NOT be stopped! He was a singing flame through space, a thunderbolt of justice cast by a protective deity and he would destroy those that threatened his love, his friends, his family, and his home.

And the Arrow, the Shahin Tara Zed, plunged into the mouth of their adversary, as it was about to loose the killing shot that would destroy them.

Part of the energy did escape, enough to blow the overstrained Ninjetti warrior apart into damaged component Zords, a scattering of spinning motes of metal against the battlefield of space.

The Star Striking Falcon ripped down the inside of the monstrous construct, segments rupturing and bleeding white fire as it writhed in an agony of mortal injury and defeat. The explosions slowed as if the deadly missile had become lodged in its metallic gut and tore it apart from the inside out.

A ragged, almost disbelieving babble of triumph gathered pace, though to Rocky's ears they were drowned out by the desperate yearning cry from Kim calling Tommy's name over and over.

"He's … still there somewhere," he managed when he remembered how to think. "Still there." Had they just won? He ... couldn't think. Had they? Where was Kat?

But as the wounded, damaged Ninjetti watched the death throes of the dragon-thing, dizzy from their experience and scarcely comprehending their situation, it was a cruel time for them to turn and realise their perceived victory was going to be completely worthless in the light of what was happening closer to the sun.

***

The Red LionZord was crippled and the Darkness Visible seized the Orb of Order, glorying in its possession. It was so small to contain such power, but he knew the size he saw was a perceptual illusion.

The being's form fluctuated with pure pleasure. "It is mine! Once more it is mine and I shall control it with its opposite. Chaos shall awaken Order; Order shall govern Chaos under my direction. There will be no law that cannot be broken or rewritten, the universe shall conform to my Will!"

Surely it could be permitted this exultation. After so long, millions of years, he was so close to unlocking the secret. All that time in exile, he had sought other dimensions, found the unfindable and then returned, knowing he could unlock the Power that had eluded him. A power born of the spirit; why, that first Ninjetti Master had been able to wake it to his touch where he had not. But he had learnt the way and created his own version of the Great Power, using the Nid-hi and was more than a Master. He was the origin of the religion, after all. There would be no limits to what he could do, create, destroy with the merest effort. Each Orb was a solidified representation of multi-dimensional forces of reality. Even dormant, the natural swirling of reality around it created miracles of nature. These humans for example, they had been lucky and resilient beyond belief. But then after he found the Orb of Chaos he had been similarly blessed. It had been worth the trials even if it didn't respond to his will then without eating away at him – but it would submit to his mind when its twin lay within his grasp. Where Chaos consumed, Order would replenish, and where Order consumed, Chaos would replenish. Balance and Power beyond imagining. He smiled and drew the precious object inside his craft, assuming a physical form to do this final act.

***

Skye knelt beside Billy, pale with panic and fear. "For God's sake, wake up! Stop him! I can't DO anything like this." An immense dread had reached inside of him and curdled his insides into ice that burned. "Jason?! JASON! Please … please, I can't do anything until Billy is awake!"

There was only the barest hint of a presence there. *... trying ... * A mind presence saturated in pain and the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth in a horrifying echo of Jason's condition.

Skye reached and drew back, assessing what would be the most help at this point. Jason could not help him, not like that. Well, he may not have access to full power, but he could use what had naturally been his. Concentrating, and hoping it would be soon enough, he drew the healing energy and poured it into Billy to bring him round and able to act. It worked swiftly enough, but he did not dare commit too much energy to the healing for fear he might need it soon for other things.

Billy stirred and sat up groaning, warm blood trickling down his face. "What ..." He didn't get to finish his question before he leapt to the console of the stricken WolfZord. "He got it? Oh God." The Blue Wolf Ninjetti swallowed, blond hair stained dark with blood. "Oh God, no ..."

This was it, they had failed. Full circle back to where they started this path; to when he was a failure, nothing but a fixer who was broken himself. He tried to rally himself, having to face the real possibility he had doomed them all.

"There are two Orbs there," Skye said in a quiet, sickened voice. "They awaken. The Darkness Visible has no idea what it is doing … no idea!" His voice rose again as the panic seeped out once more.

The dissonance grew in him, that source of the echoes that had reached into the past to warn them that there was more at stake than a world or even a galaxy.

"Billy?! It's wrong ... so ... terribly wrong, I feel it ..." Skye had his hands clasped over the embedded Star Crystal in his forehead which was sending dizzying, alarming waves through him as if reality around them had started to spiral and melt.

Billy looked at his Reality Node finder with growing horror, deducing what was happening. The Darkness Visible was not going to control these forces. To his experienced eye the patterns of Power resembled a black hole singularity and a supernova linking in an infinite loop of expansion. They weren't BALANCING, they were growing! He opened the communications channel, fumbling desperately to hail the Darkness Visible. "Take them apart … separate them! I beg you, just take them apart!" he pleaded. Pride had no place here and now. He could sacrifice that along with everything else. "Don't you see what is happening? They are FEEDING off of each other!"

"And your point is?" The Darkness Visible stared down at the two orbs floating in suspension fields as he drew them closer together. Oh, they were beautiful, so beautiful in a way that was hard to quantify. How could you explain that one as it wakened was full of the brightness of universes born, star-children joyfully setting forth on their bright journeys through time and space, and the other full of the glories of universes dying, the sweeping power of entropy and the blazing fires of hope in the darkness.

It was like seeing the eyes of God and viewing the Soul Of All Things through that visionary portal – and all that brought forth in the Darkness Visible was a need to control, to own and possess that Soul and call it his own.

"My point is that they are drawing energy from other dimensions, they are not limited by physics HERE. " Billy shouted as if volume would convey the urgency of his message.

"I know." So beautiful, they were singing to each other, yearning to their opposite. The Blue Wolf Ninjetti could not touch him now. No Prophecy could defeat him, all that time of planning and plotting and manipulating coming together in a perfect moment of culmination.

"You KNOW? But when they get enough power, reality will rip! Rip across dimensions!" Billy was yelling now. "For God's SAKE! What good will that do anyone?"

"I shall control it, I shall step outside the rip into the Outside and become the Source," the Darkness Visible said in a hushed tone.

Billy was momentarily flabbergasted by the arrogance of the entity. How could he think so much of himself as to believe that he could control such Power? To Billy, who constantly found evidence of failure in his own self, the actual rather major flaw in this plan was glaringly and frighteningly obvious. It all relied on the Darkness Visible actually being able to hand the Orbs and that was VERY unlikely.

"You think it will be a small thing? It will drop through the reality thresholds like a lead weight through tissue paper and they will all fold in on top of it!" Billy was desperate now. Why was it that NONE of his weapons worked?

There was a sudden shift and a disorientating sensation as if existence had lurched sideways and Billy turned to look at Skye with a cold, cold feeling inside. The end had begun.

***

The Zha'kha-rhee'aa had never had occasion to think that on any level he might be mortal. He was a being of very little matter and a high proportion of energy; physical danger was in practicality non-existent until he had crossed the paths of the Ninjetti. They fought with energy, and for the first time all those aeons ago he had realised he could be hurt. And to a being that was out to dominate and control, discovering a weakness in himself was crushing. He had thought himself a god, and to some worlds, to many worlds before his defeat, he had been omnipotent. So his ambition had been to become truly invulnerable, to achieve the level of power that would make him ultimately untouchable and ensure immortality. Even so, it never occurred to him there might be a Power involved that he could not handle. Why should he think of that? He'd never yet found a situation in which he had not triumphed.

So it was with an arrogance and hubris born of ignorance that he had disregarded the chattering worries of the child Ninjetti. Who would know better? One who had existed longer than their planet had had sentient life forms, or a mere stripling of the Ninjetti?

He was betting on his own experience and knowledge. After all, he had outwitted and out-manoeuvred their entire council of the Wise. Resolutely he moved the two orbs close … and they sang. Energies flowed in a brightening vortex from one to the other and back again in an infinity loop and he experienced a soaring exultation as he stepped closer. There was a strange disorientation as if instead of the Orbs being small it was himself who was immense and about to touch two self-contained universes.

If he had listened with his instincts and his heart, he would have felt the terrible outcry of wrongness that resonated through their reality and touched the spirits of those attuned in a wordless cry of desperation. He did not listen, he saw only what he wanted to see and as the rip began, a slow rending of the flesh of space, he moved forward to claim his bright destiny.

If it were that easy it would have been done before. There were more powerful beings in the universe than the Darkness Visible who could have followed the same quest and taken that power if it were just a matter of finding the Orb and laying hands upon them. If the Zha'kha-rhee'aa had considered itself anything less than the most superior being in existence, he might have reached that conclusion, but instead he ignored the worried promptings of his own mind and reached for the Orbs.

Tingling, strange tingling, no, a burning and pulling at the touch. He extended his will over the two Orbs, expecting them to fall under his sway with little resistance. A bad mistake. The Powers lunged at the connection, hungry and bright.

Chaos tore at his mind, a ravening beast with claws of entropy that slashed at his most private self; Order sent prison bars of boundaries into him, through him, impaling even the energy self so there was no escape.

All the while the Abyss opened before him, a hungry maw that would consume everything, filled with … filled with horror beyond his imaginings. It seemed a strange thing to say of a creature that had existed for millions of years, but in the grand scheme of things he was young, and naïve, and had not considered that there would be things beyond his comprehension and his imagination.

He was torn apart molecule by molecule, bleeding slowly into the infinite realities that gaped before him and tossed his agonised atoms across myriad streams of time and space.

He could not stop the screams; of pain and of shock as his body form dissolved with a hideous deliberation, his energy flesh melting into component subatomic energies as his thought form skeleton was forcibly preserved by the influence of the Orb of Order.

"Help me! HELP ME!" The cries were curiously insubstantial as if the Zha'Kha-rhee'aa's golden voice was being eaten away with the rest of his being. "Too strong, the abyss …"

That last was in a whisper of such consuming horror that chilled the listener's blood.

Billy stared at the dissolving Nid-hi craft, melting as if acid burnt inside each atom. Inexorably they were being drawn in themselves, and he was powerless to prevent it or to do anything about this! And still the Darkness Visible filled the void with screams as his final 'bones' sundered and smashed into non-existence; a final if unmerciful end to the one willing to tear apart the universe so he could control it.

How do I fight this?

Billy looked up, possibly the only one who realised the import of this event, how this tiniest hole would unravel everything into it, growing exponentially until it collapsed everything, literally everything. The Earth, this Solar system or even galaxy would be an acceptable loss if it could be stopped. Unbidden the warning that had come with the last Prophecy surfaced.

" The threat is more than that which threatens the Light alone - All is threatened in the Fall of Darkness."

Like everything else now it seemed so perfectly clear with all shade of ambiguity removed by the light of hindsight.

"Get away from here, everyone get away…" He yelled out across the link – he needed time and they were already within the event horizon, able to see the two orbs dancing together in an ever-increasing frenzy, and the reality distortion as space was stretched and drawn into the abyss at their heart.

Think Billy, think, what could they do about this? He reached into the recesses of his mind, considered the options fantastic and outrageous, but the conclusion was inescapable, no matter how hard he tried to avoid it. And he had no more time for denial. He looked up at Skye, knowing he had no choice now and it seemed that some sort of force aligned around them, thickening the atmosphere so the words were clumsy and thick with emotion sticking in his throat and mouth.

"Skye ..."

"It's okay, Billy, I know." Skye didn't make him say any more. Or make him ask for permission – it was best that the agreement was unspoken, or else one or other of them would break. "It has to happen, we are all dead anyway, and I do not know if even this can hope to succeed, but we have to try ... don't we?"

"But what can we do?" Billy asked rhetorically. The enemy was gone, how did they fight a disaster like this?

"Look to your strengths," his wolf spirit advised, the fear even in its voice. "Remember the lessons of the Master Power Quest."

The lessons? He remembered the symbolism of the quest – it seemed strange, but it had almost forecast some of what had occurred, Justin dead, Zack poisoned, Jason passing into fire. Which meant the final scene over the chasm, Skye sacrificing them both into the abyss … No …

He moved away from that. What was it Ninjor had said? That the true depth of their Power came from their instincts and their choices. What had he been doing? Not fighting at the last, but solving an intricate puzzle, aligning a key. He glanced up suddenly and terribly alert as inspiration flashed. There was no one left to fight, which left them, only the pair of them left … not to fight, but to mend and heal. When had Skye ever been a weapon? He fought to defend only, not to attack ... he was no warrior, he was … a healer.

And what was he himself? The old memories of bitter recrimination came back to him, but this time without the emotion. Nothing but a fixer.

How easily was a blade mistaken for a sword when it could just as easily be a scalpel. Damn, he had been right all along! They were not meant to fight anything, all along they had been chosen and trained to heal and fix. That was their purpose, and if they could be said to have a Destiny to fulfill, it would be that.

Billy looked at Skye again and nodded his agreement. With a trembling hand over his Blue diamond glyph, he stared at the reason and justification for this death sentence he was about to pronounce. There was no other way, and his trembling fingers touched the sparkling gem on his chest.

"I am the Will of the Phoenix, and I invoke the Great Power in full measure and summon the Star Phoenix to heal this rift, no matter what the cost." It was said in a dull, defeated tone as if the battle had already been lost somehow. To Billy, this was a personal failure as he had vowed privately that this would NOT happen. And yet, when all was said and done, even in view of the doubts of the mentors, he did have the courage to make the hard and lonely decisions. Once again not because necessarily the other would not do so, but because they would not realise the danger. Skye had said that, not long after they had first met . Not out of lack of courage, but through lack of knowledge, the sort of knowledge that was a curse because you could not comprehend it without having to take action. At least in some ways it answered that constant questioning in his heart and mind of why him, here and now, taking this most terrible step. He was glad in some ways that he was sure he would be with his friend and would share his fate, though his spirit reached to Trini. He could not abandon Skye now, not in these end moments.

The embedded Star Crystal blazed in the artist's forehead and Skye felt the fierce bright light fill him with a dizzying power that grew in him and pushed outwards as the now named Spirit enveloped him. He felt a strange dual sensation of being Skye the individual and also Phoenix immense, Powerful beyond belief, and he seemed a mere fragment in that being, a convenient channel for the Spirit to manifest. When he looked he could see through the eyes of the Phoenix and simultaneously through his own, seeing Billy staring at him and looking down at his hands that filled and burned with stars as if the universe had inverted and pushed all of itself into the fragile human form. The liberated Phoenix essence spread ghost wings of flame and engulfed the battered WolfZord and Billy into its body.

"Your Will?" came the question from the Phoenix resonating in the young Ninjetti's mind.

"We have to fix this rip in realities," Billy commanded, still staring at the figure translucent with light that was his friend. "That must be done at all costs."

The Phoenix voice seemed uncertain, the light flickering and dimming. "The forces are great, even for Phoenix-kind to deal with. But the command has been issued."

It was strange to hear the echoes of Skye's voice within that sound. Billy could barely see his physical form through the spirit flames and swirling universe stars, but managed to move himself over as they plunged towards the heart of the disturbance.

Immense, the rift yawned open like a predator's jaw as the Orbs danced their endless infinite waltz together into that Abyss, compelling all things to follow in their wake in a spiral to eventual destruction.

The Phoenix fire streamed towards it, feathers of light torn into streams of energy as it flew close. There was pain. Somewhere in that light Billy dropped to his knees, sweat beading his forehead as agony started clenching its fist in his insides. Twisting pain as physical integrity was tested and became unconvinced of its ability to exist here, though the Phoenix renewed itself moment to moment, allowing the death of molecules to occur, drawing strength from the spirit of its host.

Every passing second the rip grew exponentially, deadly in its greed. Those that had not been able to flee were now sucked in, torn and consumed through the heart of the two Orbs. It took much of the strength of the Phoenix to fight the irresistible pull of this reality singularity.

They needed to fix the fabric of their universe, but that meant they had to extract the cause, stop the cause before they could patch the hole.

"Wolf-chosen, I would use your mind through mine, for you have a great knowledge of the grids of Power and how to manipulate them," the Phoenix requested as it struggled fruitlessly to do both at the same time.

Billy had not considered he might be an active part of this process, and not having any reason not to commit himself further he agreed, letting himself be drawn into the mind of the Phoenix and opening his eyes to 'see' through Phoenix eyes.

He could see the Universe patterns, the grids of Power, so many different types it was hard to comprehend. It was as if someone had taken an immensely complicated three-dimensional tapestry and shot a hole through it, and the weave was unravelling at an alarming rate as it was pulled from the other side. Not just here, but everywhere in the multiverse. God, that was a burden so large Billy couldn't even comprehend how to deal with it. Suddenly, only being responsible for a galactic war was tolerable and much more preferable.

But he found he could take those threads and see the way to mend them; if he concentrated, if he felt the pattern, he could mend them and hold the pattern ready if the Orbs were defeated. But it would be like designing a perfectly shaped plug for a hole that had a large obstruction in it, and each moment that the obstruction was there it changed the shape of the hole. He kept pace as Skye as the Phoenix struggled to separate the Orbs.

Phoenix battled with the orbs as they wrought their terrible destruction. Wings of spirit flame struggled to keep pace in the maelstrom of energies as similar effects occurred to that which had happened to the Darkness Visible. Energies ripped him asunder and locked him in place and all the time, the small internal voice that was the individual of Skye blessed Billy's choice that had made him Phoenix, a creature of Paradox that could fight that internally. Being a creature of destruction and creation, life and death, chaos and order itself.

However, the strategy of trying to tear the Orbs apart was not succeeding. He did not have the strength for all the Command forced him to try long beyond the endurance of pain he had as a human. He was failing, and the command laid whips to his soul to not accept that as a final answer. Its greatest strength and cruellest manifestation; the refusal to let him die before his task was accomplished.

***

Out in space itself, with more than half the surviving Ninjetti injured and most of them floating all but powerless, the survivors could only watch as companions and enemies were sucked in towards their destruction in that anomaly that had all their Spirit Animals sounding great alarm and panic.

"What is happening there?" Kim asked Rocky who was with great weariness trying to re-establish communications, though his Master Power was fading in itself now. "Billy?! Can you reach him? Or Skye?"

Rocky shook his head. Agony if he tried, and he was totally drained from being in the DragonSlayer Megazord. "I can't, Kim, I can't …"

"Trini?" Kim fought her own weariness and anxiety by trying to organise what was happening.

There was a muffled sensation of grief. "They've gone in there, they … don't know if it can be fixed, but Billy and Skye – there is only the Phoenix now."

She should have known that Billy would not be able to let Skye do it alone, she had felt him reach out privately at the last through everything, she had tried so hard to go after him, but her TigerZord was dead in space and then it was too late. Let the universe die. It would hold nothing more for her.

"It's not over yet." Kim was also facing the fact that she may have lost Tommy, for all Rocky said he was barely alive, but she was going to fight this all the way. "Would they want us to give up? No. We can't, or everything they do now is for nothing!"

"What resources do we have? Who has not used their Master Power yet?" Adam asked, determined to save Tanya from disappearing into that chasm. The Yellow OryxZord tumbled slowly towards that monstrous thing.

It was Kim and Trini who responded to that out of them all, the only two who had not invoked their Master Power. The Master Powers of Protection and of Warp.

"But, what is it we can do?" Trini asked, her cheeks tear-stained and streaked with blood already. "Nothing is worth anything if they fail … and …" She couldn't say it aloud, but it was becoming blatantly obvious that at this moment they were not succeeding.

"Billy and Skye would want us to save everyone we can," Adam asserted with a surety that could not be shaken. "You know how important his friends and family are to him. If ... no, when he succeeds, you want him to find lives were lost because we waited to try and save them in case nothing would?"

"Trini … Trini can warp them to safety, " Rocky said in inspiration, clutching at his ribs as he shifted, revealing the possibility that it was not just the ApeZord that had taken damage. "You can, can't you?"

"I guess so, if there is somewhere safe to send them?" Trini wondered to herself whether she could save Billy and Skye, too. Warping people to safety had not been something that she considered. She would try. She had to try.

"Well, Kim is Protection, right?" Kat chimed in, coughing a little as she did so. "She could protect the Earth and them?" She was feeling a little dizzy now and couldn't remember why, only that she was so very tired. "Shield home, and us. Shield" The words tasted metallic in her mouth for some reason.

"Rocky, link to everyone so I can find them," Trini said resolutely, her experession set and determined. "And I will do this. I can do this!"

***

Phoenix flame flickered and guttered in invisible storms of energy.

"I can't DO this! I can't!" That was Skye's despair, echoing the failing strength of the final, greatest creation of the Ninjetti. Command or not, death was claiming them. It was in that echo of the despair he had felt on their journey to seek new Ninjetti, when they were with the Chi'iten, that he remembered the Voice that told him to learn to exist in Paradox. What could be more paradoxical than two opposites existing in harmony? If they could not be separated, then maybe they could be fused. With a binding glue of Paradox. With the very essence of the Phoenix.

The decision was made, the individual self of Skye was a mote of dust in the forces involved, but even so he reached for Billy's mind and a last final comfort conveying the course of action to him with a wistful farewell implicit in his words.

"If I ... Phoenix succeeds, you know what will happen?" Skye asked in his mind

"A backlash of the surplus energy, like a supernova." Billy responded his mind, flashing thoughts that strained his comprehension, trying to keep pace with the ever-changing needs of the universe. "It will destroy Earth."

Skye gave a slight smile, that strange resonance with Kim that had existed from his healing of the Crane Ninjetti all that time ago bypassing the thwarted communication of words. He knew not in words but in feelings she was getting ready to protect Earth, and their friends as best as she could. "Kim is going to try and stop that. I will try and reach her in warning. Are you ready, Billy?" He asked, gentle now at the last.

The Wolf Ninjetti's eyes glistened in the brilliant light that surrounded them. "It is what has to be done. Forgive me?"

Skye opened his mind to Billy in those last moments so he could feel everything, that there was truly nothing to forgive. That he had truly discovered to regard this as a gift rather than a tragedy. He had been given his life back and knew he had a purpose, and it had been sweet, wonderful to find such friends and experience such love. As the Star Phoenix began to force the two Orbs together, pouring its essence into the resulting single object, Skye's life began to fade along with that of the Phoenix.

The Phoenix energy was healing the rift, drawing too much raw energy from everywhere. More energy than any physical being could hold and bear, they both knew that, trapped in the heart of the Phoenix itself. Skye was dying … and so was Billy as that same protection faded, as all their powers, all the accelerated parts of his mind began to unravel when Phoenix impossibly merged the two forces together.

Now was the moment and everything, including time itself, slowed and shuddered as Order and Chaos met in the ever-changing being of the Phoenix.

Skye reached for Kim and Trini in that instant, empathically sending an irresistible urge to invoke their Master Powers immediately with what strength he had left.

Scarcely without comprehending, two separate invoking cries sprang forth and with the reach of her mind, Trini, the Gold Tiger Ninjetti, gathered all who were left and her mind could touch and shimmered them through space to the battered sanctuary of Earth with a mighty effort fuelled by her need to live up to her love's expectations. At the last she reached for the two within the furious boiling light and darkness that swirled in the void before them as the power turned to take her to safety as well. Tried SO hard to reach him, to hold him just one more time, one last time, to say she loved him again, to say she needed him …

But he was lost to her. They both were in the midst of fire and any mental probe she made burned away instantly. "Remember your promise!" she called out fruitlessly as she warped herself away, exhausted finally and weeping unashamedly now she could see no hope at all.

Kim reached after that tendril of presence, that warmth and resonance she associated with Skye beiginning to fade away completely, its threatened absence bringing a chill to her. "No … don't go … please ... don't ... I can't hold this alone."

The responses were not words, but impressions, flickers of images. He was trying so hard to reach her.

~Mustmustmustprotectfindstrength~ – it was an insistent surge of emotion. Enhanced as he was by his spirit form, he could sense that subtle alteration in body energy and with his last effort sent, ~mothernowprotectunbornearthmotherprotect~ before the presence faded completely.

What? Had he been trying to say what she thought he had been trying to say? Was it what she thought?

Kim, unable to stop herself, looked down at her stomach and rested a hand there as if trying to sense something different. She looked back up with a fierce expression on her face. This could be the only thing she had left; she had to protect it. She could be pregnant, she could be a mother and Skye had never lied to her, never and he had been connected to her at such a deep level after her healing that surely he would know. A maternal spark fuelled her determination as she created a shield between that strange tormented anomaly of space, which was drawing in on itself in an ominous fashion, and her family, friends and their home. Last line of defence and she would hold. She had good reason to.

***

As the Orbs became one, the energy poured in and Billy let the pattern he had fixed, using a speed of thought and calculation he would never have dreamed possible, loose into the Phoenix to patch that hole in reality.

The energies wavered unstable and then, as if taking deep breath, paused, drew in before announcing the birth of a new single power in an explosion of coruscating light.

Billy screamed silently into the brightness as he felt that tearing away, as the rebirth energies of the phoenix as he had hoped, as he had prayed when he had chosen the spirit form for his friend on Phaedos, gathered around the dying remnants of what was Skye.

The Wolf Ninjetti closed his eyes to say a last farewell, only to feel something move around him, like a friend's last embrace, as the rebirth energies were pushed to take him instead.

A final split second. Face to face in a thought as realities swirled around them.

"My last choice." Skye gave a faint, wistful smile. Anger, and self-pity had passed into an unnatural peace. "My only choice. For the ones I love."

"It was meant for you," Billy replied hopelessly, in their touch of thoughts and emotions.

Skye held his hand a moment, half turning to leave him. "You've already given me a life, Billy … it's the one I've been living. All your life, Billy, you have sacrificed for others. Now you must receive, and sometimes that is a harder thing to do. Take my gift, Billy. It's the only thing I have left for you both, and I'm not even sure if I am strong enough to make it a proper one, but I have to try."

"But Skye, I … I can't ..." He couldn't leave a friend behind, but he had no choice.

"You can … you will. For Trini's sake." An expression of pain crossed his face as he finally let go of Billy's hand, withdrew from his friend to stand alone. "Goodbye Billy, no regrets. Never any regrets. Remember that and remember me."

The energy seemed to imprison him, crystallising around him and Billy felt his wolf spirit, his own spirit lift its voice in a silent wolfsong of farewell as it engulfed him entirely. Before the light faded, he could feel the warmth of Skye's touch over his heart and maybe half caught words half seen … half heard of 'Remember me' … and maybe another word before Skye's unwanted gift claimed him as its own.

The old Phoenix, its life short in duration, bright in glory and great in purpose, passed away, all of it thrown into the balancing of the forces of Chaos and Order. It had succeeded, and the sudden birth cry of the new Orb fountained energy throughout the levels of reality, exploding out with the power of a supernova. Fragments hurtled out ahead of the light wave, shooting off at incredible speed and Kim cried out as the meteor show ricocheted off of her shield.

She would hold, she would protect the Earth, without her it would all be for nothing here and now. She had to shield them, shield Tommy and … their child? Their child! It was a mantra recited over and over, fanning the Master Power into a blazing barrier over the Earth as the deadly result of their final triumph sought to obliterate friend and foe.

A final flare of defiance strengthened the shield a last critical bit as the shockwave slammed against it, pushing her back though Kim yelled in protest, pushing back, pushing back ... HOLDING … as the world was washed over by the fire of collapsing stars and all things burned with light.

And then it was gone.

The silent starfield of space settled once more, rendered whole again by a miracle of the Great Power and there could be no greater memorial to the sacrifice of all the Ninjetti than the continued existence of the universe they strove to protect no matter the cost. For once again the War had left nothing but the shattered remains of a noble army of warriors and a group of survivors who were silent in the aftermath.

Strangely it was Rocky who spoke the first words after that terrible cataclysm, he whose Master Power had been communication lived up to that instinct with a surprising whispered quote from his religious upbringing. "Your Sun shall no more go Down, or your moon withdraw itself …"

Prophets everywhere, even on Earth, had given the warning and now that it was over their tasks turned to dealing with the consequences of survival.

Epilogue

It was perhaps typical that it happened the way it did. The mysterious large ovoid of night-dark crystal had been guarded night and day for nearly two months and yet when someone needed to be there, there was no one on watch.

Adam, who had taken to flying long sweeps alone as a way of dealing with his private loss for his friends had discovered the sizeable object tumbling on its way out of the solar system at escape velocity. Trajectory plotting eventually showed that it had come directly from the reality rip vicinity, which meant it could be something to do with Billy, Skye, the Darkness Visible or something from some unknown reality. Either way, it seemed that it couldn't be allowed to wander aimlessly through space, though there were many who had raised objections when the Black Frog Ninjetti had stirred himself from depression and caught the object with FrogZord's tongue to bring it back to Earth.

Its arrival caused a great debate but, when it came down to it, no one could deny Trini that slim impossible hope she was clinging to that allowed her to function in these aftermath days; that the crystalline object would somehow provide some connection to Billy, or a way to bring him back. So it had been allowed in to the Power Chamber, to a secure area and placed under constant guard and studied to see if it were dangerous or a mere lifeless chunk of fused crystal.

Strangely the prison for the bizarre dark object formed a rare place of solitude and peace in the bustling Power Chamber. The place had expanded into practically a miniature city as the Zeebeedees had adapted their functions and turned to delving and excavating, rebuilding and constructing, so that the Ninjetti had a home of sorts. For many of them, there was nowhere else now that they could turn to, though Dulcea planned to take many of them back to Phaedos to try and start afresh there. As she had said, there was no further purpose in Phaedos being a legendary planet anymore. It was time it once more lived and breathed, and the Ninjetti whose homeworlds had been ravaged, who were too injured in body and mind to return to the past, could begin there to make a fresh future. Grand plans indeed. Many Ninjetti would return home given time, but right now they felt a debt to the planet that had become a battlefield and wished to assist in its recovery if they could.

It was patently obvious, however, that there were not that many of the original force left. Scarcely a hundred thousand out of the original two million spirit warriors had survived, and a frightening quantity of them had been injured. Of the Ninjetti Masters and warriors of Earth, they had lost Justin, Zack, Delphine in the final battle, and of course Vy-Ru before that. The Drakin Ninjetti Master, J'shaar, had died of his injuries three days after the end of the war, having lost the will to live when he discovered his beloved Sisthaa had been killed in the DragonSlayer Megazord. They had fought to save Aisha from a similar fate, knowing that the strength of the Master Ninjetti could also be their undoing when that true love departed. Aisha, true to her spirit animal, found an inner strength to bear that burden, finding comfort in the possibility that she could choose to have Zack's children one day if she wished. With a foresight that had stemmed from a bleak realistic view of the way things could turn out even if they were victorious, Billy had insisted on a program to collect appropriate reproductive specimens from them all prior to the conflict and put them into storage. It had seemed cold and clinical at the time and they had shied away from the suggestion, but it seemed their unassuming friend had realised and faced the future they had not.

Adam had been contemplating the past few months whilst he stood watch over the strange item, something he did frequently for the solitude and peace it seemed to give him. He found it easier to think alone; others might need other people as sounding boards, but he was of the type that had to clear things in his own mind before discussing them, now more than ever.

He knew he had been lucky in that he had suffered little more than superficial cuts and bruises at the last - though even now he tired very easily as if he had suffered a debilitating illness. That apparently was down to the unbelievable amount of energy they had expended invoking their full Powers. They had to be careful as the Master Ninjetti, even those relatively unhurt, were in such a weakened state that they were prone to illness and had to be stopped from trying to assuage their survivors' guilt in overwork.

The Black Frog Ninjetti studied his hand a moment, watching the fingers quaver slightly in proof of that assessment. Well, it was an improvement. His father, sporting a broken arm from the attack on the Power Chamber, had been furious with him when he nearly collapsed after going out scouting on long missions deep into the far reaches of their solar system and beyond. Even now he found it hard to express what he was looking for out there. Some final answer, maybe, as to what had happened in those last moments with Billy, Skye and the Darkness Visible.

Startling and unbidden tears welled up in his eyes and now he didn't even fight them; the slightest trigger, a thought, a memory could have this effect and was part of the reason he preferred to be alone. It was difficult enough to deal with people when your emotions were under control, let alone when they could surprise you by being so close to the surface. Answers would help. Jason's father had said that, that one of the reason he looked so hard for answers and solve the crime cases he was assigned was that they enabled him to control his emotions by defining what he could feel. That was what he needed, some form to give his responses. Should he be feeling guilt? Anger? Loss? At the moment those emotions and a myriad more merged and blended into an uncontrollable mass. But what answers could he get? Rocky had been unable to connect to them there, and the story they had pieced together was sketchy and unsatisfying. They had heard Kim and Trini's story and had witnessed the Phoenix fly in after the Darkness Visible, but ... he didn't know what drove him, but he was obsessed with knowing what had happened in there as if somehow that would allow his restless emotions to settle and not disturb his sleep by padding through his dreams.

Maybe that was why he had brought this crystal in, seeking to solve one mystery through another. Thank God, Tanya seemed to understand this relapse into silence and solitude; it was unfair on her, but she was going to the other extreme of drawing people together, rebuilding and organising, coping in her own fashion. He was so proud of her for doing what he knew he could not, and it was her face that millions were coming to love all over the world for her optimism and drive.

Rocky, though still ready with a smile and a quip, seemed to have a shadow across his eyes if caught unguarded. Adam knew, with all the history between them, that Rocky did not have quite the bullet-proof optimism he portrayed and that gnawing away inside was that personal guilt about ordering Zack to what became his death. He would have talk to him about that, as it was easier to comfort others than yourself and he knew that Rocky needed to make his peace with Aisha. He had seen that haunted look on his friend's face when he looked at his one-time closest female friend. It was time it was pointed out to the Red Ape Ninjetti what a phenomenal job he had done holding the Power connected all that time and that it wasn't his fault, that Zack in the end had chosen that path to save Earth. Kat was helping him, but she had suffered some internal injuries so as yet did not have the strength to force him to see sense, and Rocky could be very, very stubborn about certain things. His depression over his back was a case in point and it was possible he thought Kat HAD to say those things because she loved him. What a mess. The frog Ninjetti sighed; tomorrow. He would talk to him tomorrow.

It was not all so easy, though; Cestro, well, they were convinced Cestro was mentally disturbed by the shock of Delphine's death as there could be no other explanation for his rather peculiar reaction. Instead of being grief-stricken, he had come round smiling, seeming perfectly happy and denying that she was dead. Nothing they had been able to say had convinced him and in the end no one had the strength or will to contradict someone so obviously happy and at peace with himself. It was a rare enough sight for it to be treasured, not destroyed. Adam suspected that Trini's insistence that there might yet be hope, albeit a thin tenuous possibility, stemmed from a similar denial. The Council of the Wise mourned Billy and Skye as dead along with the other fallen warriors and it was hard to see how they could be wrong. It was Zordon who had explained, when he had deduced the absolute danger that had been faced by them all rather than just the invasion they had initially thought to be their priority.

"I have never been more proud of Billy than in the moment I realised why he defied our judgement in favour of his own," the Eltarian had said.

Adam had to agree. That must have been unbearably hard for his genius friend, who needed approval so badly, to make all those decisions; he would have hated it. It made him cold just thinking about it, cold and lonely, so the impact on Billy would have been profound. He so wanted to be able to gently tease his friend about it, to let him know how proud he was in that quiet truthful way the pair of them had shared between them that he missed so much. Again the burning sensation in his eyes as tears threatened, but he didn't care.

Skye, too. With him it was a case that an aching painful absence made him realise how much his presence had meant, and had been taken for granted. All too clearly now, he realised that just before the battle, when the artist had had a short poignant conversation with him and then strangely, taken his hand as he said goodbye, looking directly into his own dark eyes, how much of a true farewell that had been. Then he had thought it strange and made his excuses and left … and now so wished he hadn't. Skye had known then he would die, he realised that too late for it to be meaningful.

He sighed. His thoughts were rambling, his focus shot to pieces. Tommy and Jason would be horrified - if they weren't battling for their life and restored health.

Tommy had indeed been alive, barely, when Trini's last massive effort had saved the Ninjetti from complete loss. Kim had hardly left his side in all the time since he surfaced from his coma, despite the fact he was unable to walk. But he had that unstoppable look in his eye ever since Kim had confirmed to him that the revelation that had given her the extra strength she needed to protect the earth had indeed been true. She was indeed pregnant and it had been a definite miracle that the strain of using her Master Power had not resulted in a miscarriage. Tommy or Kim junior, in Kim's own words, had just reached the point where she could feel it doing miniature "Sie-Kyuh!" punches and kicks inside her womb and that seemed to have filled Tommy with a determination to get well that had to be seen to be believed. He had fought his way back from the brink of death so that his child would have a father and his love would have a husband and he most definitely turned his focus forward rather than back.

If he'd had to have predicted beforehand who would most likely be the one to brood and lapse into depression over the War, Adam would have immediately thought of Tommy. Instead … it was Jason. Jason had been badly injured, not as badly as Tommy, but the effects seemed to have been more profound for all of Dulcea's reassurances. He had internalised all the guilt for the deaths of their fellow Ninjetti, for the innocent civilian casualties that had occurred all around the world, and in particular for the deaths of Billy and Skye.

It didn't matter how often he was told it wasn't his fault, he could not let go of the fact he had played a significant part in the near end of all things, and that it had taken the sacrifice of two of his closest friends to fix the situation he had caused. It was as if he did not believe he deserved to recover, and he rebuffed all attempts to absolve him of that guilt. He didn't want to be told Billy and Skye's death were all right, and Adam could understand that. He wanted there to be someone to blame as well, but it was not Jason who deserved that burden. Jason had been placed under intense pressure and as Zordon had rightly said, the Darkness Visible would have found another way to destroy Earth whilst he was about it.

That was no real comfort to the Red Lion Ninjetti, Adam could tell that. He looked as if he had lost all confidence in himself and who he was, for all of his friends' and Dulcea's support. At Justin's funeral he had been barely conscious, but insisted on being there nonetheless. They had all been grim that day, but none more so than Jason, his dark eyes filled with pain both physical and emotional. Why hadn't anyone said that winning would be such hard work? Why was it the warriors seemed to punish themselves so; there was little heart for the glory right now, it was too soon after the war and wounds were still fresh.

Musing darkly to himself, Adam examined the man-sized ovoid crystal intently to distract his mind from sombre thoughts. It was obsidian black; the light seemed to slide into it. There was something about it that focused the eye and mind. He stared and then for the first time laid his hand on the surface, touching it. It was cold, very cold. It seemed to suck the warmth from his hand immediately and he took it away again, shaking heat back into his fingers. Why had be done that? Maybe there was something strange about it. Was that a flicker of light where he had put his hand? He bent closer to stare just as someone skid in behind him, startling him.

"Adam!" Rocky called out, steadying himself on the door. "Quick, Tommy's WALKING!"

Adam blinked. "You are kidding me?"

"No, seriously." The Red Ape Ninjetti was aglow with the miracle. "He is! Only a few steps, but he's really doing it ... you've got to see!"

Adam briefly forgot his duty and ran up to witness this astounding achievement for himself, leaving his charge momentarily unattended.

And so it was that when someone should have been there as a witness to another miracle, no one was.

The heat from Adam's hand had been enough to wake the egg. Light glimmered from the palm shape, liquid starlight crawling across the ebony surface, streaking it with light. It was as if it had been waiting for privacy before it released its secret, and this was the only time it had been alone in warmth and safety and without someone standing guard. The rough edges sheared off, polished and smoothed by the light, so the shape became a smooth crystal Egg. There could be no more doubt to what it was; only to what lay inside it. Midnight black from one direction, another with the light shining behind it gave the impression of seeing through smoky translucent crystal to a curled foetal human form inside; a moving figure at that.

A crack echoed in the empty room, then another. Filigree of light spread over the smooth black crystal surface of the shell, pieces dropping to the floor and tinkling like glass on the hard surface. A crash then as a large chunk broke loose as if kicked forcibly and the cohesion of the egg began to fail just as Adam, belatedly realising his abandoned duty, reached the doorway to see the Egg shaking , light streaming out from holes and cracks and an silhouette of an arm reaching out.

With commendable speed he yelled up the corridor to where all the others were still congratulating Tommy on his first few steps.

"Bloody ... Guys?! Guys! Back up! The Crystal Room! Now!" He yelled, waiting until he had some backup before even going far enough in the room to set off the general alert.

From peace and quiet to chaos and noise, the Ninjetti who got there first entered the room cautiously. Jason and Rocky took the fore as Trini joined them with Kim and Dulcea, stalking carefully forward.

"What is it?" Rocky whispered, looking to Dulcea for answers.

The First Warrior of Phaedos shrugged. "It is nothing spoken of in the Marai Sphere or any of the Prophecies - I do not know, Rocky." She glanced across at Trini whose face was a mixture of fierce hope and bitter despair.

In the next few moments either she would have to abandon hope or embrace it; either outcome meant accepting loss of some description. She knew what Trini hoped it was. Another glance to Jason showed the possibility it might mark the return of the evil they had fought; it was hard to accept that a people could be so emotionally flexible in their responses. She readied herself just in case.

The Egg shape shattered, making them yelp as tiny shards flew everywhere and they shielded themselves instinctively from the hazard.

When they turned back there was a figure lying there, in the remnants of the shell, covered with glistening liquid in a way that stirred memories of the original Ninjetti timeline before the warping of time in the Zeo era. Only it was not Zordon who lay still and unmoving in a nest of shimmering crystal.

Unable to stop himself Adam looked automatically to the hair ... looking to see if it were a splash of bright vivid white or ...

Dark blond.

He closed his eyes a moment at the upsurge of emotion, but Trini was already ahead of them all and there, pulling Billy up into her arms, tears running down her face as all the emotions of the last few months she had kept in check released at once.

He was close enough to hear her whisper. "I knew it … I knew it ..." over and over, and then more mysteriously, "He'd never break a promise," as she held a barely conscious form to her heart, not showing any signs that she was going to let go as she bent to kiss the stirring ninjetti.

It was a turning point, it seemed, for them all. Adam could see a revelation in the wonder that spread around the room as they tried to grasp the hows and whys of this latest event. It was particularly evident in the contrast of the emotion that was on Jason's face, which recently had become so fixed in expressions of despair. The Red Lion Ninjetti looked like someone who had believed the light had gone forever and he was lost in darkness, only to have someone unexpectedly gift him a lighted candle to find his way back out to daylight. That was what had happened here, not just the return of a beloved friend; and the wetness on his own cheeks stood testament to the truth of that, but something more meaningful for all of them.

All the time, all the way through they had GIVEN for others, and now it seemed in the return of Billy to them there was a promise that this had not gone unnoticed. And that, in some ways, was all that they needed to carry on. Some recognition that it had been worth it from the universe, the world, from someone, and that all their suffering had been worthwhile.

And right now, in this moment, they had been given hope that it was.

***

Billy stood alone, looking out over the rebuilding of Angel Grove on the top pinnacle of the Power Chamber in the evening air. He had rarely been alone since his 'rebirth' and he just needed a little time to think, or to feel. It seemed that he had woken back into awareness with the dream threads slipping away from him, all the knowledge in the universe, all the answers to every question he had ever asked pouring away. He felt empty, deprived of some intimate connection, and though he knew that would fade as here and now became more real to him, the feeling lingered like the ghost echo of a dream.

He was happy to be alive; he was grateful beyond words to be back with everyone he knew and loved. Gratified in some ways to see how much of an impact his loss appeared to have had, though he was secretly a little guilty at that feeling he still recognised it as a human frailty. So much to catch up on and absorb. The others were two months ahead of him working through the process. To him … it had been moments before when he had last looked into Skye's eyes and he had made one final choice and given him the Phoenix Spirit's rebirth. How could he explain that to anyone else? No one else had shared that moment. No one else could ever know.

He didn't know if it made it worse or easier to find a letter, written to him in his friends hand, propped neatly on the pillow of his friends one time room as if he had known he would be drawn there.

A letter that said all the things that people always wanted to hear or have absolution for after someone had died. And he cursed his friend for being so damn sure, and blessed him silently for that foresight of forgiveness that so neatly took each building block of guilt and crumbled them into dust with words.

Each time he read it, he wept. He suspected he would until his dying day.

A slight scuff of a foot behind him made him glance over his shoulder. Jason. The Red Lion Ninjetti moved carefully, he noticed, and he still had fresh memories of what he had said, ordered to be done … and wondered if his old friend could forgive him that.

"Just wanted to see if you were okay up here, bro," Jason said a little awkwardly, not trying to make it sound like he had struggled his way up here, pushing his recovery to the limits to do so.

Billy glanced at him, the letter in his hand. "I'm fine, Jase." He looked up at his longtime friend, and then at the letter again. If there was one thing this letter contained, it was the knowledge that there was nothing that could not be forgiven. *Such a simple and powerful thing.*

"Jase ...? About ... when I said they should stop you?" he began awkwardly, not knowing how to broach the topic. "I … had to ... I had to tell them to try and destroy you. I didn't want to … I …" It had hurt more than any physical injury he had received; it had felt like he had ripped out some vital part of himself.

Jason looked surprised. That was the last thing he had expected. "I was the one who nearly screwed EVERYTHING up, Billy. What you did was totally right. God, if it had been someone else, I would have given the order myself. I wasn't strong enough not to give in to him."

Billy laughed in a short, tight parody of humour. "Jason, no one could stand that pressure, don't you understand that yet? The very nature of who we are and the strength that having a true love partner gave us could be made into a vulnerable point. You were stronger than I would have been if it had been Trini. Maybe nobody has told you, but the Darkness Visible KNEW all our weaknesses and all our moves by the end. He just lacked the final location. When it was betrayed to him, well … he threw all his resources at you and Dulcea, there was no way you could do anything but what you did."

Jason shook his head. "I nearly enabled him to destroy everything, Billy. Everything!"

Billy shook his head in response to that assertion. "You were not responsible for that. Not even the Darkness Visible knew what would be let loose then, he was totally taken by surprise; the only one who might have suspected was ... Skye." He fell into silence then, fingers smoothing over the paper in his hand.

"If it weren't for me ..." Jason began and then stopped himself, seeing suddenly that that was the wrong thing to say.

"No, Jason. That's one burden of guilt you will never have to carry." Billy said with complete certainty. "And if Skye had his way, no one would have to take responsibility. He gave me ... everything, Jase, when it came down to it. I thought because of Trini, because I knew that he loved her. The rapport that we held, and the things that we went through, made it impossible not to know, though for some reason we did not talk about it." He looked out into the sunset, where the first bright stars were making a brave appearance even before darkness fell. "It came as a shock to discover the truth. That in the end, it was for me."

Jason could not think of anything immediate to reply to that. What could you say? It was a gift and a curse rolled into one, a gift that you never wanted but were forced to accept nonetheless. "You would have done the same for him." He said by way of an answer.

"Yes, I would have, and I nearly did," Billy replied. "I had hoped, all the way along, that the choice of the Phoenix as his spirit animal would give him that chance. It had been obvious for a long time that he did not expect to survive, and I did everything I could to defy that assumption in the Prophecy. Jase, he was told he would die, win or lose, and I do not know how he stood that. It was hard enough for me, knowing the odds were incredibly slim, but having that secret hope that somehow, somewhere there might be a way." The words were tumbling out, the usually quiet Ninjetti feeling the need to unburden himself for once and being unable to stop.

"And to have to order him to that death? I saw that as a more personal version of what I was doing to everyone else … including you, Jase." Billy gazed at him again, looking for forgiveness there as well. "And as Trini said, one person can only accept so much responsibility before it consumes them. The worst thing is that I can see a perfect symmetry to everything, a perfect pattern. When I woke from the Egg, Jase, it was if I had been woken from a state in which I had ALL the answers, everything was explained and I was content and at peace, and then … I woke up and it drained away."

Jason heard the loss in his friend's voice and was amazed at its depth. "You have us, Trini, your family …" he offered, wishing he had become more skilled with words.

Billy nodded, acknowledging that point. "Yes, and that is what is keeping me here, that and Skye's last message and the fact that everything in our lives tested us, it seems, trained us for this encounter. It seems damned unfair that was the way it had to be, and yet ..."

There was a long silence before Jason prompted him, "And yet what, bro?"

"And yet it seems our purpose is not fulfilled," Billy whispered as a dusk breeze made them shiver.

"How do you work that out?" Jason asked quizzically.

"We are still alive," Billy replied simply.

Jason couldn't argue with that, either. It was a rather effective argument and the truth was, he was very tired right now and more challenges seemed unfair if not cruel. "Maybe it is our time for our happily ever after?" he suggested with a glimmer of hope.

Billy smiled a little, looking more like his real age rather than someone who has seen things it would take lifetimes to come to terms with. "It would be nice to think that. But I do feel guilty for ... just being alive right now. And dammit, he even knew that!" He half laughed as tears started to fill his eyes again.

"Skye?" Jason confirmed before he mused, "We lost good friends, Billy, it's natural to feel survivors' guilt. It hurts now to think of Zack and Skye and the others, but I can promise you that it will get better."

Strange, but it was if the familiarity of roles was feeding his confidence back into him. He could face his own pain to help someone through theirs, even though Billy knew all he was telling him better than most. He shot Billy a sharp glance, seeing a clear understanding of what was happening. "You are doing this on purpose, aren't you?" he said in mild accusation, seeing his long-time friend nod slowly.

"It doesn't mean I do not need this any less. I can't talk about Skye to Trini yet," Billy replied. "She is convinced that it was because of her. Zack, Delphine, Justin, the others, I can share their loss with her, but not about him; and out of us all there were not that many who knew him that well. He was an outsider to the group and though he worked his way in, he didn't have that special closeness which all groups that grow up together achieve. There will be a tendency to grieve for the others, but not to think of him. And he doesn't deserve that from me, he doesn't deserve to go unremembered." He swallowed again as if he had spoken aloud a very private oath.

Jason struggled trying to find something that was not a cliché to comfort his friend. "He had more of an impact than you would think, Billy. He connected with all of us one way or another and he will be remembered by all of us even though he's gone."

Billy remained still, staring as the sun glimmered brightly on the horizon, bleeding light in vivid colours across the sky. "I don't feel him gone, Jase. I … I can't. It's like, in my mind he's absent, but I can't seem to convince myself he is gone. My mind tells me he is, but …"

Jason rested a comforting arm on the Wolf Ninjetti's shoulder. "That's natural, bro, really. I find myself doing the same with Zack. I keep expecting him to come in through the door, laughing and joking like usual," he said compassionately.

Billy didn't answer that. How could he explain the difference when he was not sure himself? It was most likely denial because he was so involved – and yet at night he found himself listening in the darkness for that familiar mind touch as a wolf listens to the wind for the answering howl of the Pack. He sighed as the last glimmers of light faded. "The Sun goes Down ..." he murmured. "But they said nothing in any Prophecy about what the next day would bring."

"Maybe they were not sure there would be a next day," Jason replied and shivered at the chill. Now that was a sobering thought.

"Just because we fixed the universe, does that mean we are responsible for looking after it all?" Billy asked half-seriously.

Jason twitched a smile. "Pretty much."

"Damn, well best get an early night, then. That's going to take a LOT of work." Billy said, sounding more like his old self, though Jason was sure there would be many solitary trips away from everyone before he could come to terms with the changes these last few years had wrought on his life.

"After you," Jason gestured, wondering if he was ever going to be able to express to his friend how proud he was of what Billy had accomplished. Too much sympathy now might break him, and he was going to have so much to deal with. All of them were. This was no mere battle that had no loose ends, this had left its scars on the very fabric of space itself; as well as physically and mentally on the warriors involved.

Billy seemed too young to have bourne such a heavy load of responsibility as he disappeared inside; but then so had they all and they HAD done everything that had been asked of them – and more. It was going to be hard to accept, but soon, maybe when they opened themselves to the outside world, they were going to realise that they had actually WON. It was a fact that had somehow vanished under the grieving. They had literally saved the universe and perhaps it did owe them a happy ever after.

The world would know what they owed his friends, Jason would make sure of that, and so would the rebuilding worlds of the Alliance of Light. Billy was right, there was a lot to be done, but at least they had the opportunity to try and do it right!

As he followed his blond teammate back into the Power Chamber complex, he noticed a sheet of paper fluttering as if Billy had just dropped it and he hastily snatched it up before the twilight breezes whisked it away.

He couldn't help himself, he glanced down and was immediately captivated by the clear, graceful handwritten words of the poem Skye had copied out to summarise his message to Billy.

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more, day by day
You tell me of the future that you planned;
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve;
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than you should remember and be sad.

~Christina Rossetti~

The words stopped him in his tracks and the Red Lion Ninjetti found himself overwhelmed by memories of the young artist who of them all was the most gentle and yet had a strength to contain so much inside of him. Forget and smile? No. He would learn to remember and be happy, and he would help Billy do so too, that he silently promised.

Billy was waiting for him inside and Jason wordlessly handed the letter page over; his expression must have spoken volumes. Billy looked at him with an understanding expression. "I know, Jase. And the others would have wanted that, too. Sometimes, when you move on you don't have to leave everything behind.You get to choose what you want to take along."

"I understand." Jason nodded. "And in time I think the others will, too, round about the time they realise we actually won this war."

Billy nearly laughed. "We won? What an amazing thing!" he said, appreciating the reminder.

Jason nodded. "Yes we did, all of us. It's taken me a little time to realise it myself, but we did win. We made it through the darkness and the night, and I am going to make sure everyone remembers the sacrifices made … and takes the opportunities this new start brings."

He sounded so serious, as if he truly could make this happen; Billy gave another slight half-smile. Had not this whole conflict been a measure of the fact that an individual could change everything? >From start to finish, if one of them had faltered then all of them would have been lost. It was not that anyone had been significantly more important than the other, because levels of Power were nothing if you never reached the point to use them.

Right from the start they had fought to preserve those who were needed to act, even before they knew how important their contribution could be. If anyone had said that this could have happened, he would have thought them mad, and yet somehow he had ended up with everything resting on his words and his choices. A frightening thought, and yet as he followed Jason inside, Billy realised there was nothing right now that he could actually have done any differently – even with the benefit of hindsight. That was something at least to be grateful for, even if the winning had involved sacrifice.

He looked down at the letter one more time before carefully folding it and tucking the precious words away.

They had indeed made it through the sunset and the nearly endless night; and now, who knew what the new day would bring?

The End

Author's note:- Well, it's finally over – I would appreciate feedback, though I started this for my own pleasure and it has ended that way, too! My thanks to Daggy for beta-ing for me, and to both her and Mele for plot discussions and random threats to get it done! It's been an interesting way of charting how my writing has developed, and at least part of the reason why it took so long is that I wanted to do the ending justice. I have certainly tried to do so, and thank you for bearing with me to the very end.