Disclaimer: Power Rangers/Saban. JLA & Titans/DC comics. Special Thanks: Cinders, for allowing me to use her storyline for this series. By the way, read 'The Once And Great Power'. You'll be glad you did.
ALTERNATE POWER PATHWAYS: THE RETURN OF BILLY CRANSTONby: C.A. Turner
"Everyone hang on!" Andros yelled. The bridge of the Astro Mega Ship was filled with all of the current Rangers, along with some of the Titans. All vying for something to hold on to, as another blast from the Dark Fortress ripped into it's side.
Red lights flashed on, and DECA's fading voice called out to them.
"Andros... systems...failing. Shields...100...%...disabled."
"Hang on DECA. Aquitar is straight ahead of us!"
"Andros, should we try to contact Aquitar again?" Cassie asked, fighting the sparks that began to shoot from the communications console.
"What have we got to lose?" Andros responded.
"Our lives?" Arsenal commented from behind them.
Cassie touched a few buttons, hoping that whatever was sparking, wasn't what she needed in order to contact the Aquitians. "Delphine, this is Cassie, aboard the Astro Mega Ship..." * * *
The Aquitian Rangers had been witnessing the approach of the attacked Mega Ship for some time. They were too far away for them to get a tractor beam on, and the communications were garbled, when they were actually able to get something through.
Silently, they prayed that the Mega Ship would make it until the
Earth Rangers were close enough to get a lock on them All attempts at communicating with the ship had been fruitless so far.
As Delphine prepared to try communications once again, she heard her name called, broken up somewhat.
"Rangers. You are nearly close enough for us to get a lock on you, and bring you in safely..."
Static filled the line, and Delphine, as well as the others, waited patiently for some indication that they had been heard. * * *
"Nothing." Cassie said, looking at Andros, the worry on her face mirrored the expressions on everyone's faces.
"Keep trying!" TJ yelled over the noise.
The Mega Ship began to vibrate violently.
"DECA! What's going on?" Andros called out. But, there was no reply. "DECA!" He called once again. Nothing...
"Incoming!" Carlos yelled.
"THAT TEARS IT! Billy, you ready?" Kyle shouted.
"In this case, I was BORN ready! let's trash these fools!
***
"Yahoo! I love this game! This is better than that...Star-whatever movie it was that they made me watch. It was suppose to be one of the best movies they ever made. I thought it was kind of lame, if you ask me. Didn't seem real at all. Now, this is real." Arcus yelled over the sounds around him. Spinning in his seat, he looked across the Dark Fortress'' deck to where Astronema and Ecliptor stood; their backs to him.
"Ungrateful-"
"What did you say?" Astronema asked, as she turned and moved to his side. A printout of the damages to the Mega Ship, held in her hands.
"I said, that this is better than any video game."
"What's a video game?" Astronema asked, looking down at the list of damages.
"You watch a battle on a screen that isn't really happening, and you have these controls in your hands that makes the battle happen, and you try to destroy things, without being destroyed, so that you can win. Something I was taught during my ten year with the Rangers."
"A battle that isn't real? How can that be any fun?" Arcus turned back to the view of the lifeless Mega Ship before him, sticking his tongue out and mocking Astronema's words, silently to himself.
Taking the controls in his hands, he prepared to fire at the ship once more, when...
KA-WHAAAAAAAAAAM!
"What the hell...?"
What was going on was both Kyle Rayner & Billy Cranston, both Green Lanterns, were going all out in attacking the Dark Fortress.
"Keep firing, we'll trash their shields!" Kyle bellowed.
"2 more shots ought to do it. They're down to 3.8%. Then, we trash their weapons!" Billy had learned some quick tactics from Batman:
"Where your enemy thinks he's at his strongest, is usually where he's weakest."
And this was no exception.
"Wait!" Astronema yelled, just as Arcus prepared to fire.
"Why? Somehow, they've just trashed our shields! We have to stop them before..." Arcus never got a chance to finish.
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A mechanical voice spoke "All weapons inoperable. Offensive down completely. Defensive: 1.4%.
"Oh, this is just lovely! We're sitting ducks out here!" Arcus snarled.
For some reason, this little bit of news made Astronema extremely happy. Or rather, the inner Astronema.
YES!
Outside, both GLs had created a catapault, loaded the weakened fortress into it, and shot it as far away as they could.
"That should be the last we hear form them for awhile. Shall we continue?" Billy smiled, as they returned to the ship, which resumed its path to Aquitar.
* * *
"James, they're bringing it in!" Young Cestran called out. Cestran had been in training with his Uncle, Cestro for two years now, and he loved the thought of one day becoming a Ranger.
Excitement filled the air, as he looked around the large room. Several control panels flashed with lights, while others seemed like they were some alien creature with millions of arms. Wires hung from various holes in the panel tops.
"James? Are you here?" Cestran called again. Slowly, he made his way into the room, carefully moving past the dangling wires, hoping to keep his blue robes from getting dirty.
"Cestran? What are you doing here?" Came a friendly voice from behind him.
"Looking for you James. They're bringing in the Astro Mega Ship." Cestran faced the man behind him.
James moved to Cestan's side. His aged hand, patting the young boy on the shoulder. Cestran smiled up into the wise and aged eyes. A head of long white hair, and a long beard and mustache gave statement to
James' true age. Cestran hadn't seen very many humans in his life span. James was already here when Cestran had started on his apprenticeship. And he adored the elderly man, whose black robes brought out the stark contrast of his long white hair and beard.
The only other human Cestran had seen, was the Earthling, Billy, but it had been a long time since he'd been there. And when he had seen Billy, it had been for a short time, during a visit. Billy had come to help the Aquitians against the Hydro Contaminators. He'd left shortly afterward.
"Thank you Cestran. I'm preparing for it's arrival at this very moment. How's your sister doing?" James asked, his voice barely registering the fact that he was nearly eighty years old. Heck, he didn't feel like it; his movements unlabored by age.
"Cestria should be returning from her search, for the medicinal plants she was looking for, soon."
"Good. We may need her medical expertise. Tell the Rangers that I'm ready when they are."
"Sure." Cestran quickly left the room and headed toward the control center, where he would find his Uncle Cestro, and the other Rangers.
James turned his attentions back to the device in his hand. It looked to be nothing more than three bubbles sitting atop of each other, but a pulse of blue seemed to swirl around it's outer edges, from bottom to top, then dropping down through the center to the bottom, to start it's upward spiral once more.
"I think this power cell should do the trick." James said, wrapping his hand protectively around it. Moving carefully to the disemboweled console, he stretched out his hand, sinking it into the depths of the panel.
Concentration furrowed his grayed brow, as he strove to place the power cell in it's place. With a slight push, a click, and the hum of computers filled the room.
Smiling to himself, he began to replace the consoles wires, and put the covers in place.
"James, this is Delphine, are you ready to receive the ship?"
"Yes. Is there any sign of life aboard it?" James asked, with some concern.
"Yes, but, there has not been any sign of movement for some time. We were just barely able to get the tractor beam on the ship, before the blast hit."
"All right, opening port doors, now." James said, closing the communications.
No movement? They had to hurry. James pressed several buttons on a nearby console. With a hum, two huge doors at the back of the docking room, began to open onto the sea beyond. He continued to watch further, as a bubble of water slowly began to reach into the room. And as always, he expected it to suddenly burst, flooding the room, and drowning him. It never did, as it stopped several yards into the room.
How often, during the time he'd first arrived here, had he wished the bubble would break, taking him with it? He couldn't remember. But, slowly, old memories faded, and if it hadn't have been for Billy, always there, always talking him out of it with his intellectual thoughts, he would have given up to those memories a long time ago. But, Billy was gone now, and James had promised to never give up. And he hadn't.
A large object coming toward the bubble, brought James out of his thoughts. He watched as it slowly approached. As he looked at it, it seemed almost as if it were coming in upside down. Turning at the slight sound of footsteps behind him, he saw Cestria approaching him.
"I heard what happened, and I hurried as quickly as I could." James sighed as the young Aquitian woman stopped at his side, and took his hand in hers, leaning against him.
"Glad you could come Cestria. Your help may be needed." Cestria smiled up at him.
She turned her attention on the room beyond them, gazing around at all of the equipment Billy had put together since he'd been there.
When he had first arrived, she watched, feeling strange, as the humidifiers were removed from the room, and the consoles built. It began to look more like Earth in here, than it did Aquitar. The only things that remained the same, were the coral walls, and the doors that opened onto the sea.
"I can't get over how dry it is in here. Thank goodness it's not this way everywhere. I don't think we Aquitians could stand it for very long."
"It was hard for me to get use to your climate as well, but things are working out just fine. I wouldn't live anywhere but here, now."
An alarm began to sound, bringing their attention from the conversation, and back on the task at hand.
"Is something wrong?" Cestria asked, as the once, upside down object, now upright, came to within inches of the skin of the bubble.
"No. It was just a warning, in case something does happen. It was just a way of letting us know the ship is here." James smiled as he released her hand, to stand at the controls to help guide the ship in.
Cestria stood back and watched in amazement, as the huge, blue ship began to emerge from the sea, and enter the room through the delicate skin of the bubble. The ship began to fill the vastness of the room with it's size, making the room appear to be smaller than she had first thought.
As the bubble let go of the back of the ship, it vibrated back and forth, causing a slight splashing sound, as it did so.
For a moment, the ship hovered over the floor, as if held aloft by some invisible hand.
"It's in, Delphine. Retract the beam." James said, as he gazed at the huge ship before him. Water from the sea, running off of it in waterfalls. The water running to the lower side of the room, where it ran down a drain and into recycling containers, then back into the sea.
A beam, barely visible, slowly withdrew from the ship. And as it did so, the ship gently came to rest, with a shaking thud!, on the floor before them. Once the ship was settled, James took Cestria's arm and guided her into a small room, set into the wall. Once inside, James pulled closed the large, thick door.
"Now what?" Cestria asked. She knew that the Aquitians had created this chamber to house the ships of various visitors to the planet, but she never thought to learn the mechanics of the things within it.
"I'm going to raise the air pressure in the room, forcing the bubble of water back, so that the doors can close."
Cestria watched silently, as a loud hissing filled the room outside. The bubble that reached into the room, began to slowly retreat. The doors closing slowly, as it did so.
"Tideus, is the medical staff ready?" James called out. Tideus' steady and controlled voice filtered into the small room around them.
"Yes James."
James watched as the large doors finally came to a close. Switching on a lever, the hiss faded and a slight roar followed, growing fainter by the minute.
"All right Tideus, let's get them in here, and I'll see what I can do to get into the ship."
"We're ready."
No sooner had Cestria and James left the chamber, than the medical staff, followed by the Rangers: Corcus, Delphine, Cestro, Aurico and Tideus, filed into the room.
James grabbed up some equipment from a nearby table, and strode toward the bottom of the ship. Drops of water continued to drip from it's hull, as James began to move around it.
"Where are you? I know you've got to be here somewhere...Aha! There you are." Spotting a small silver panel on the rear of the ship, James called out to Corcus, who rushed up with a ladder for him.
Once the ladder was in place, James began to climb it, reaching out for the panel. Placing the equipment in the pocket of his dark robes, James began to feel around the panel's edges looking for a trigger that would allow the panel's door to be manually opened.
"How are the life forms inside, doing?" He asked Delphine, who stood looking a the monitor.
"They are still alive, and healthy."
As he prepared to respond, a small click! alerted him to the fact, that he had indeed found the trigger. With hands just as dexterous as they ever were, James pulled open the panel, and fished the device out of his pocket.
Cestran, who had entered with the Rangers, watched from below, sandwiched between his Uncle and his sister. They watched as James connected two thin wires to the dark panel before him.
Quickly, he began to tap out codes on the hand held pad. "Come on, come on! Where's the blasted code for this thing?" James questioned himself, impatiently.
As he punched in code after code, James' mind kept leaping forward to the next code and the next. "Come on, there's only two left."
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he hit the last numbers. The room was silent. Every little drop of water falling from the Mega Ship could be heard hitting the floor. It's sound like that of thunder in the silent room. When nothing seemed to happen, James opened his eyes, looking around at the people gazing up at him, vivid memories of another time, rushing in.
As his fingers brushed the pad, a roar of power filled the room, and the lights on the panel flashed to life. Acting quickly; having no time to be surprised, James tapped a code into the panel. Suddenly, a ramp descended down to the floor of the docking room. The medical staff rushed up it as it continued to lower, then stood waiting at the still, closed door.
Before they could question weather it would open, the doors slid apart, allowing the air in the room to rush past them, like a sudden wind storm, to fill the air starved ship. Cestria left Cestran and Cestro's sides to follow the medical staff onto the ship. James descended the ladder and moved to Delphine's side at the monitors. Staring down at the screen before him, he watched as six, quickly flashing, dots approached the...twelve? slowly flashing dots.
"Who are those people?" James asked, a bit confused, as the all the dots came together.
Delphine, feeling a bit confused herself, replied, "The Lightstar Rangers." Her eyes remained glued to the screen before them.
"Are there suppose to be twelve of them? Maybe it would be wise for us to send in some armed guards?" James asked, a bit worried.
"What little communication that we did receive, seemed to indicate that the only attack was that from the Dark Fortress but they were stopped by 2 warriors with these emerald rings that could create anything they wished. And, as far as I remember hearing, is that there were originally two Lightstar Rangers, then they recruited four more.
So, at the most, there should be only six Lightstar Rangers aboard the ship along with these 2...Green Lanterns, I believe they're called."
James looked up at the ship. "Then, who are the other four?"
Suddenly, one of the medics emerged from the ship, carrying, what appeared to be a body. James moved forward, and as he neared the medic, he noticed that the body was clad in red, gold and black armor.
"I found this aboard the ship, with the others. It's an Alpha unit, and it's been severally damaged. I don't know if it can be fix." The medic nodded to the figure in his arms.
James closed the distance between them, and stopped, staring down at the body in the medic's arms. "It is indeed an Alpha unit." He agreed. Then he noticed that half of the head was missing, having exploded outward, wires dangling from inside of it, with small bits of the outer shell clinging to their ends. "Leave him here. I might be able to do something with him." The medic nodded and continued down the ramp. Looking back into the darkness of the ship, James could see the rest of the medical staff emerging, with 12 people following. All of them had a slight greenish glow, a protectorant of some kind, obviously created by these...Lanterns.
James stood to the side, as the medical staff, Cestria and the Lightstar Rangers, passed by them. The first was a white male, with brown and blond striped hair. The second one was a young man who seemed to be of Spanish decent, with wavy, shoulder length, black hair.
Feeling a presence next to him, James looked to find Cestro and Cestran standing next to him.
"They are alive?"
"Yes, thankfully." James replied to Cestro's concerned question. They let the silence hang in the air, as they continued to watch the Rangers emerge from the ship. The next, a young Asian woman, with long black hair. Quickly, another one passed, this one a young, tall male, of African decent; head shaved.
James risked a glance at the two Aquitians at his side. Cestran showed great interest, but Cestro's expression remained unreadable.
Another had passed them, and James took a quick look to see a young white woman, with brownish-blond hair, passing by. Quickly he looked back at another bubble coming his way. As it passed them, he heard Cestro speak up.
"Cyborg? Raven? Arsenal? Supergirl?" Cestro seemed confused, which James clearly understood. He was just as confused. He knew them too.
"I know them as well. But, why are comic book heroes with the Lightstar Rangers?"
"I do not know. And it may be some time before we find out." Cestro stated, indicating the state all of the Rangers were in.
Quietly, they watched as, confusion filled his mind. Where did these heroes come from?
James looked up at Cestro, who was looking questioningly at him. "I believe two of them are missing." James stated, as he quickly took leave of them, his back stiff against their gaze.
Delphine approached Cestro and Cestran, watching as James moved to the machines, to start a diagnostic on the ship. "Is he all right?" Delphine asked.
"Yes. And I think we're going to be seeing Billy again...soon. With his friends here, he won't be able to stay away for long." Cestro stated, gazing in James' direction.
"Good. Billy's been gone a long time, and I miss him." Cestran added.
Cestro and Delphine nodded in agreement. * * *
Dark Specter's image stood high above the ridge where Arcus now found himself standing...alone, amid the wreckage of the barely functioning Dark Fortress, due to the unholy damage that both Green Lanterns visited upon them.
"Where is...WHAT IN THE SEVEN HELLS HAPPENED HERE?!?"
"2 Green Lanterns, that's what happened! We had those Rangers, until they showed up, and trashed our shields, our weapons, and our navigation. I don't even know where we are, thanks to those 2. I WANT THEIR HEADS ON A GOLD PLATTER!"
"Calm yourself, Arcus, we'll deal with them later. Where is Astronema?"
"Well, I think she's sleeping it off. Woman must have an infinite sea of patience."
"Very well. I'll try to find out more about these...DC heroes...as you've called them. Why are they here? I'll also send out a crew to fix your ship and get you new weapons.
As Arcus rose, he found that Dark Specter had left, leaving him completely alone on the ridge.
"My plan stinks on ice. I couldn't get one Ranger, those otherworld turkeys ruin my encounters, now this!"
"Sounds right so far, you over inflated windbag." Came a familiar voice from inside of Arcus' head.
"So, you're still hanging around, huh?"
"You thought I'd leave?"
"No. I was just hoping that you had stuck around long enough to witness the end of the Power Rangers." Arcus smiled contemptuously.
"Well, if that's what you think, you don't know the Rangers very well...do you?" Zhane's voice mocked. And then began to laugh.
In a flash of red rage, Arcus disappeared from the ridge.
* * *
"My Princess." Ecliptor called to her. Gently, he reached out to still her struggling form.
He watched her eyes slowly opened and she blinked against the light. Ecliptor saw a slight whisper of fear pass over them, then it was gone. Carefully, she sat up, leaning against the wall behind her.
"What, what happened?" She asked. She put her hand to her head, and felt a small wire hanging from the device attached to her face.
"I did, what I thought was best. What my heart told me to do."
Astronema looked at Ecliptor. Her father, with a real heart beating behind the cold armor. "I have raised you as my daughter, from the moment Darkonda brought you to me. I've watched you grow, and I've been at your side your whole life. You were in pain, and I knew I had to make it stop."
"I don't understand." She stated, shakily.
"You are, who you have always been. And I will still remain at your side, and I will fight to the death to protect you."
"Who I've always been?" Confusion overwhelmed her. She stood, unsteadily, from the bed, and wondered to the mirror on the wall.
Carefully, she listened for the voice in her head, but everything was silent. Silent!
"Andros..." Quickly, Ecliptor was at her side, holding her.
"You know...do you not?" Ecliptor asked.
"I'm...Karone."
"Yes. Astronema is dead, forever. But, you will have to keep pretending you are still her. Arcus is growing stronger, and is finding favor with Dark Specter. We have to defeat him and Dark Specter."
"Andros? The Rangers? After all we've done to them, why would they trust us?"
Because it is the truth.
Astronema was now more determined than ever to help the Rangers, and get back together with her brother. Is there a way to deprogram Zhane?
There is, but I'm afraid I don't know what.
That makes our job that much tougher.
* * *
Andros made his way through the Aquitian equivalent, of a hotel, checking on all of the Rangers, and the heroes. At each doorway, he carefully peeked inside. Not so much to keep from disturbing the occupant, but to keep his head from aching.
When he had awakened, his uniform had been washed and repaired, and he himself was on a very comfortable bed. His fellow Rangers were fine. Ashley was a little bruised, and that was the extent of it.
Carlos had a couple of scratches. Cassie, who seemed to have suffered only minor bruises, was already up and assisting Cestria with the others. TJ, he found, only had a black eye, and was sitting on the foot of Zhane's bed, playing a game of Aquitian cards. Tideus was teaching them to play. Zhane had bandages on one cheek, which didn't seem to stop his affective laughter.
In another room, he found Cyborg, Arsenal, Supergirl, & Raven talking among themselves, and in the hall, Kyle & Billy were checked out and unmarked. In fact, Billy looked like he was about to go somewhere.
"You will be careful?" Kyle chided.
"Yes, mom." Turning to Andros, he growled, "Didn't know my mom was coming along."
***
One hour later, Billy had found James, and they began to talk. "You know, don't you?" James muttered.
Hey, you can't keep anything from yourself. Now, the question is: why?"
Billy leaped up towards James, who said "I look at you, and I see a guy with a lot of promise, a whole life of friends, adventure, & craziness just waiting for him." As James talked, it seemed that he was getting younger, and younger. It was reflected in his voice, his face, and his hair."
Don't let reality or jealousy claim you. otherwise, you lose both powers, and your friends. Take it from me, that almost happened, and I almost drowned in a sea of self pity."
-BILLY! I've been talking to Billy all this time!- Andros thought to himself.
"Hope you understand, now I'm ready to go back to Earth. I'm needed there."
*** ***
Meanwhile, back on Earth.
2 more people were found, ready to take on the guise of the Purple Ranger. They were...
Cindy Roberts & Jamie Zedden. Isis teleported them safely to their HQ, right under Arcus' nose.
"Now, if Billy would hurry, and bring his double. He's the key to it all." Superman soberly added.
***
Billy had trimmed the long hair, so that it brushed lightly at his shoulders. He had kept the beard and mustache, which were now dark brown, and trimmed neatly, and short. He was wearing the familiar jeans and black turtle neck shirt that he had been wearing when he left Earth, years before.
Nervously, he moved to stand before the surprised group. He knew he would have to explain a lot of things to them, and he only hoped that they would understand, and forgive him. But, with what he knew, it would have to wait.
"I'm sorry for the charade, but things were difficult for a long time, for me. I know you all have many questions, and I'll answer them at another time. I just want to say that I am sorry, and that I have missed you all, and I'm glad to be back."
"Your friends missed you too." Raven declared. She could tell, from when she met them, that everyone will be trying their best to hold themselves back from jumping up, and running to hug him. as an empath, she knew these things.
"We can wait, until you're ready to tell us. We understand." Cyborg stated, rising from his place on the floor. He moved to stand before Billy. Smiling, he shook Billy's hand.
"Thank you. But, what is important right now, is accessing the Grid, and saving Zordon." The room was filled with words of agreement, and Billy smiled.
Suddenly, he felt a surge of energy within him. And it was telling him everything he would need to know, to return the powers to the other Rangers, as well.
* * *
Soon, all of the hugs and handshakes, had been passed around. Billy felt as if his ribs were broken, but he was happier than he had ever been. He stood alone in the large room, Cestria beside him.
"Thank you, Cestria. For being my friend, and sticking with me, even when I let James take over."
"I understand why you did, what you felt you had to do. And I am honored, to be your friend. Welcome back, Billy. Welcome home." She smiled, hugging him. Then, together, they left the room, to join up with his friends on the Mega Ship.
***
"Warp factor 6, DECA! We have to get back to Earth, NOW!" Andros said.
And with that, once out of Aquitar's atmosphere, The AstroMegaShip hit warp 6, on it's way to Earth. Time was of the essence.
The end