Author' Note: I hope you've enjoyed this little ride. It's almost to the end, and as you will see from this chapter, there have been surprising developments.

*******************************************************

The anger inside him boiled, and erupted to the surface. He felt his body go cold as the Power flowed through him. He heard a single voice, a familiar voice that echoed throughout the Gray, "Do you accept this part of me?"

Kyle's voice was a low growl, "Yes." Then his mind exploded! A thousand memories, not his own, yet all too familiar flooded into him. Those of another Kyle, on another world who had loved, and been betrayed, just as he and Neal had been betrayed. Another set of friends who'd gained the Power to fight off the invaders wrapped themselves around his heart. Then the memories of their deaths at the hands of Michael and his minions intertwined themselves with his own.

Strong and quiet Tracy, the friend with just a little much of the 'player' in him- that aspect finally cowed and brought to heel by the quiet strength of Suzanne- lying broken at Michael's feet. Bone, Brandon's brother who refused to admit what his other-self and his brother shared- denying it with his dying breath at the hands of Hypolyta. Suzanne, the heart and soul of his team- the one who never judged him, even when the truth cost him his career, his schooling, and ultimately his family- dying trying to rescue Bone. Brandon- Oh God Brandon- Kyle felt the grief and sorrow his other-self felt over his lover's death. It was as deep as his own despair over Neal, but with a difference. This Kyle Kerry had no Adam in his life. His second chance was without the fire and hope to love again.

*Not anymore,* a voice in his head, not quite his own said.

*Not anymore what?* he asked.

*I understand now,* the voice said. *You've given me that. You've given me, given us the ability to see that now- you and Adam.*

*What has Adam got to do with this?* Kyle asked, feeling defensive of the new place in his heart the Black Ranger had carved for himself.

*Everything,* the voice told him. *He is the unexpected fulfillment of what I thought to be an empty promise.*

*Just who the hell are you?* Kyle asked feeling nervous.

*I'm Kyle Kerry,* the voice answered.

*Like Hell you are!* Kyle told him.

*I am you,* the voice said. *I'm the you who watched and felt your ability to love again slowly kindle itself into what you feel now. I'm the you, that lived another life, on another world, who gained the Great Power at a horrific cost. I'm Covenant.*

Kyle was stunned. This voice, these memories, this other life claimed to be one of the most powerful beings in the multiverse. *You're the guy who sent me back, from the Abyss?* he asked.

*The very same*

*Why are you in my head?*

*Because you're me,* the voice said. Kyle heard him chuckle mentally, *I had to make my own bargain to save you and your friends. I had to agree to become one of you.*

*Why me?* Kyle asked.

*Because you're me,* the voice replied. *You are this world's version of me. It was easier to merge with you than to warp reality whole cloth to create a sixth Power Ranger. The Master is efficient if He's anything.*

*So my salvation was just an excuse to get you here on this world?* Kyle asked feeling somewhat betrayed. *You USED me.*

*No, the choice was always yours. You could have gone on to the Abyss.* The voice sounded sad, *At the point you were offered the choice, "I" would have. You've shown a strength I didn't have, Kyle. You've gone on and rebuilt your life, while I buried myself in the fight against Michael.*

Recalling the memories of this other-self, Kyle shuddered, *I didn't lose as much as you did. I still had my dad, and then my new friends.*

*You're right about that, but you did take a chance I haven't. Not in all the eternities I've lived since I began this, have I allowed myself to love again. You did, and in doing that, you saved me. You saved yourself, and your friends.*

Kyle shuddered at another memory, *I didn't save Billy.*

He felt the sorrow in the other-Kyle, *No, you didn't save him from facing what I faced. But, at the same time, you can save him now. You and your friends can save your whole world.*

*How?* Kyle asked.

*By accepting the Power from me,* his other-self said. *By becoming what I am, and multiplying it manifold times your number- by letting me pass on beyond the Veil to be with Brandon.*

*What do I have to do?* Kyle asked.

Kyle felt his mind reach out and join his friends. He could feel Tommy's cool strength, the warm hearth-fire that was Kimberly's soul, Adam's calm serenity, and the burning anger that was Jason at this moment. Laced through it all was Billy's cool intellect and understanding. *Do you accept me? Are you willing to become a Covenant with your friends? Are you willing to stand between Michael and his minions against all realities? Are you willing to become more than the sum of your parts?*

"Yes," Kyle said aloud.

***************************************************************

Tommy felt a cold anger come over him as the visions faded. His body echoed the pain his other-self had felt- echoed the pain, and the humiliation Billy felt. The latter was so intense that it sent spasms through his stomach so severe that he was afraid was about to see his last meal for the second time.

Billy was the friend that shouldn't have been, the friend that had no reason ever to be his friend. Beyond Rangering and their circle of friends, they had nothing in common, yet they were still friends. To Tommy, that made the friendship and brotherhood he felt for Billy that more precious to him. Now he realized, he'd failed that friend. He knew Billy was counting on him and the rest of the Rangers to rescue him. They didn't, and Billy had been forced to face the ultimate violation with only the enduring strength with which he'd always faced life's injustices toward him. The fury that was building in him now was unlike any he'd ever experienced. Once unleashed, no amount of discipline, no amount of meditation would bring it under control until it was spent. He heard Covenant's offer. "Yes," he answered simply.

Beside him, Kimberly stood tears running down her face, a fierce look in her eye that shocked even Tommy. There was murder to be done there, and he almost feared for his own life with what he saw. Her jaw was clenched and her usually smiling lips were drawn in a tight white line. This was a side of his petit girlfriend he'd never seen before. For some reason his heart swelled with pride at the sight. "I do," she replied without hesitation to the voice that he knew she heard as well.

Next to her stood Adam, his eyes reflecting the same whirlwind of fury he felt beneath the calm serenity of his features. Tommy had known Adam for a couple of years now, and knew that very little made the young Korean boy angry. Now, even he was surprised at the intensity in his voice when he said, "Yes."

Like himself, the other Rangers were silently weeping- except Jase. What he saw in the Red Ranger's eyes sent a shiver down his spine. Those midnight orbs had contracted to ebony slits, as the tall youth clenched his fists at his sides until blood ran from the half moon shaped cuts his nails made in his palms. If Tommy and the others were angry, what Jase was feeling had to be multiplied by infinity. Tommy could sympathize with his best friend. If the same had happened to Kimberly, he knew he would be in a similar state. A low growl escaped Jason's throat, "Yes."

In some distant world, Tommy heard the sound of Billy's voice echo the same answer, "Yes." As they had all accepted the chance to return to Earth to fight the Kregar, in the same unison, they now embraced the storm they felt building inside them. Some dry part of his mind, noted that upon affirmation, reality warped, and Kyle and Billy disappeared from their minds.

Suddenly, the world around them shifted. Tommy felt the barrier to the Gray tear as the mists swirled to engulf him. He wasn't sure how, but this time Tommy knew that they had willed themselves here. Looking around he saw that he and each of his friends had morphed into their Ranger armor. From the swirling mists, wrapped in a cloak of shadows, a dark figure strode.

Tommy reached out and firmly laid a restraining hand on Jason's arm. "Not yet, Bro."

The figure spoke and Tommy recognized the voice. It was the same that had given him the choice in the Gray in the first place. However, it was also another voice- a more familiar voice. One that made Adam blanche at his side- Kyle's voice. "I have only a short time, and can only speak to you here before I pass beyond the Veil. You now are truly the Power, more than ever. You are limited only by your own will, imagination and knowledge. However, don't fall into the trap of letting what you've become shape who you are. I let my sorrow blind me. I became dark, and brooding. I forgot how to love. You've given that back to me." He smiled gently at them. "Don't let your anger do that to you. Anger, hatred and sorrow, are tools. Use them, but don't let them dominate you."

"But I thought we should avoid them?" Adam asked. "I mean, isn't that the road to the Dark Side?" He made quotation marks with his fingers.

Covenant chuckled, "Not if you want to live. The Creator gave you those things from which to draw your strength. They are part of you, use them, don't let them use you. Every animal draws on its fear and anger when the need arises. Humans are no different, we just try to suppress it, and of late let some half-baked pacifist from Hollywood's attempt at good story-telling influence our collective psyche. When it comes to this fight, there is no Dark Side- there's you, Michael, and reality. When you clash, you can, and WILL warp reality." He looked off into the distance as if listening to a voice Tommy couldn't hear. Nodding first he turned back, "I do have one final thing to ask."

"What?" Tommy asked.

Covenant smiled and the shadows around him dissipated somewhat. "Actually, it's something I want to ask of Adam." Stepping up close, he reached down and took the smaller boy's chin in his hand. For the first time Tommy realized that although his eyes spoke of a much greater age and experience, Covenant had the youth of somebody their own age. "Take care of yourself and him. You've both given me something I thought I'd lost. Thank you." He gently kissed the Korean boy on the forehead and faded away.

"I will, I promise." Adam said quietly. "And, you're welcome."

As if his very presence had been some kind of dam, Covenant's exit released a rushing river of Power that coursed through them. Tommy felt his mind suddenly open up to the Universe, as the Power permeated his very being. Truly a new breed of Power Ranger was born.

At his side, Jason growled, "Let's go get Billy." Almost as an afterthought, "And make Michael pay for what he has done."

*********************************

Next Time: The final showdown, where the Ranger learn that ". . . threats are illogical and Payment is usually expensive."

Sarek: Star Trek the Original Series: Journey to Babel.