Disclaimer: The vast majority of characters don't belong to me, they're borrowed from BVE without permission, but since they're not using them, you think they'd mind me borrowing? Ben Johnson is borrowed with grateful thanks from Ekat. Anyone else is the product of my twisted little brain -- you're welcome to borrow, but please ask me first.

Canon Junkies please note: Because of the way the Identiverse has ended up there are considerable differences between this story and the two episodes 'Reinforcements From The Future I and II'. If I've changed something, it's almost certainly to get it to fit into the universe or to write out a plot hole or to be consistent.

Muchos gracias to Ree and Gamine for beta'ing this for me. Also thanks to Chris for offering me some tremendously useful feedback and pointers when dealing with a massive cast. For Gamine.

Please offer feedback, it tells me how I'm doing -- and many apologies for the lateness of this part!

~*~

Sacrifice

Rancho Diablo should have been a pretty location, Alex mused. It was on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay and set in some very attractive woodland. The only thing spoiling the location was the dozens of Putrids swarming over the mothballed power plant.

"OK. Lucas, Trip, Danny, Max -- you have the control room, you know what to do," he said. The four named all nodded. "Alyssa, Kim, Jen, you're backup. We need to get the buildings clear of all Putrids and Orgs."

"Gotcha." Kimberly nodded.

"Everyone else -- you know who you're paired with and where you're clearing. Let's get moving."

~*~

Shayla watched as Eric visibly controlled the impulse to pace.

"It is not easy," she observed, "being the one left behind."

"I never thought it was," Eric answered. "I've just...never been the one left behind."

Shayla nodded. "That much is obvious, I am afraid." She smiled kindly. "Kimberly will return safely. She has much to act as incentive on that count."

To Shayla's amusement, Eric blushed at that comment. "I just wish there was something I could do."

Shayla's amusement faded. "But, sadly, there is nothing we -- either of us -- may do now but wait."

Eric snorted softly. "Oh great."

Shayla couldn't disagree.

~*~

Merrick watched the pink-haired woman he had been paired with for this mission and shook his head slightly. As the most experienced member of the clearing party, it had been obvious for him to be paired with Nadira -- Eric had been right when he'd suggested that and Merrick was not about to argue with that statement. He mightn't know a lot about Eric Myers but it was palpably obvious that the other man was a seasoned warrior, whose judgement the rest of the Time Force officers clearly respected. No, the problem came with Nadira herself: Merrick was just not sure what to make of her.

"Am I doing something wrong?" she asked, concern written large on her face.

And that, Merrick decided, is what is so strange -- I have never met anyone so worried they're doing something wrong or so concerned to do things 'right'. "No -- you're doing fine."

"I just...feel as though it's my fault," Nadira admitted.

Behind his helmet, Merrick blinked, puzzled. "Why? You said yourself last night that it was your father who created these monstrosities, not you."

"I know." Nadira sighed. "But I have a lot to make up for on my own...mistakes I've made...and I know it's silly, but...this feels like another one of them. And I want to show people that I'm not like that any more..."

"You will get there," Merrick answered, gently cutting her off. "Your first step is believing it yourself." He frowned. It sounded like a piece of advice that someone had given to him not all that long ago, when the Zen Aku curse was finally lifted. "And, I believe your friends already believe it." Yes, that was definitely advice he had been given. "They believe you -- and trust you." Perhaps it was advice he should act on. "As do I."

Nadira smiled a little. "Thank you."

There was a soft sound behind them. "Uh-oh."

~*~

For a big man, Danny could move with a considerable amount of stealth when the situation warranted it. And right now was definitely one of those times. The whole plant was crawling with Putrids and he knew that sooner or later they'd have to face them, but if they could get up to the control room undetected that was all to the good.

Over the comm. system, he heard Merrick report,

"Putrids on the east side of the complex -- proceeding with clean-up."

"The control room should be right around this corner," Lucas observed.

"Uh-huh." Danny nodded. "I hear Putrids though -- and lots of them."

"Well -- not like we weren't gonna have to face 'em," Lucas replied. "Max, Trip, get to the control room. Danny and I will clear the way for you."

Part of Danny rebelled at being ordered around like that, but the rest of him knew Lucas was right. And I'm guessing he knows more about planning an assault like this than I do.

"Ready?" Lucas asked.

"Ready."

~*~

Alyssa took point as she, Jen and Kimberly made their way into the main building. Stopping at a hallway intersection, she could hear a swarm of Putrids just around the corner.


"What's up?" Jen asked.

"Putrids," Alyssa answered.

"Which way?" Kimberly asked.

Alyssa inclined her head to the left. "Just round there."

"Well we're not going to get this done standing here," Jen observed. "Ready?"

"Yep." Kimberly's answer was firm. "What're we waiting for? Let's take out the trash!"

Alyssa blinked. That was somehow the last thing she was expecting from the temporary Quantum Ranger, particularly given how distracted she'd been first thing that morning. How could she possibly be ready?

"Alyssa?" Jen asked. "Ready?"

"Of course." Alyssa attempted to dismiss her own misgivings.

"Then let's do this."

Jen took the lead, rounding the corner into a head on confrontation with what seemed -- to Alyssa -- to be an army of Putrids, and then there wasn't time to worry about whether Kimberly was up to this task.

Wave after wave of the Org foot soldiers swarmed forwards. Alyssa found herself falling into a routine of kick, block, punch, duck. It wouldn't have been so bad had they been able to use blasters but there was too great a risk of stray sparks striking something and starting a chain reaction, so all the fighting had to be open hand, and even morphed, she found her stamina being tested.

"Well c'mon big and ugly!" Kimberly goaded.

Alyssa looked up to see the temporary Quantum Ranger apparently surrounded. Before she could even so much as open her mouth to speak a warning, Kimberly grabbed the nearest Putrid by the arm. Forcing it to bend, she rolled over its back and returned to her feet, outside the circle of Putrids, kicking the one she'd used as she did so.

Alyssa stared open mouthed.

The two nearest Putrids were first to react to Kimberly's sudden escape. They each grabbed one of her arms but before they could even think about what to do next, Kimberly was up and over in a tight somersault that tore her arms free of their grip and landed her behind them. Almost without pause, she was up in a split kick that caught both Putrids squarely in their heads.

"Holy..." But Alyssa's exclamation was cut off as one of the Putrids she had temporarily forgotten attacked her.

The blow sent her stumbling while a well-placed leg sweep sent her sprawling.

"Oh no ya don't!"

Alyssa was aware of a red-and-black blur passing over her and the next thing she knew, Kimberly had cleared the area immediately around her, enabling her to get back to her feet.

"You OK?" Kimberly asked.

"Yeah -- thanks."

"Keep sharp!" Jen advised. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

~*~

"I've never seen so many Putrids!" Cole exclaimed, kicking yet another Putrid back.

"I guess your Master Org figures this is his best shot at world domination," Wes replied.

Cole grunted. "Probably." Another foot soldier crumpled into a heap. "Why do they want to rule the world?"

Wes threw the Putrid attempting to attack him into three of its compatriots. "I can't say about Master Org or the Mutorgs, but both Ransik and Biocon wanted revenge."

"But why? What good is revenge?"

There was a pause in conversation as they both joined forces to deal with a pair of particularly persistent Putrids, which finished off this particular force.

"I don't know," Wes finally answered. "I guess they think it'll somehow make them feel better."

Cole just shook his head. It was an alien concept to him and he suspected he'd probably never truly understand it. "Do you ever get used to this?"

"Get used to what?"

"This." Cole gestured around them. "The...the fighting -- and knowing that people want you dead."

There was another pause, this time presumably caused by Wes debating that point. "I think I've accepted it. Accepted that there are people out there who want to take this all away from everyone and accepted that I've been put in a position to do something to stop them."

There wasn't much Cole could say in response to that.

"C'mon," said Wes. "We've gotta find those Mutorgs."

~*~

Ben shook his head in disgust as yet another wave of Putrids swarmed forwards.

"They don't stop coming, do they?"

Taylor snorted. "Did you expect them to?"

"I can hope."

Taylor snorted again -- although this time, Ben knew she was smiling beneath her helmet. "How about ya stop hoping and ya hit them?" she suggested.

"Your wish is my command."

Ben suited actions to words and started tearing into the nearest group of foot soldiers, aware of Taylor following his lead.

"You think," she said almost conversationally, "when this all gets done..." a Putrid went flying, "...we could maybe..." another Putrid went crashing to the ground, "...go out for a drink?"

Ben found himself smirking as he super-kicked a Putrid into the two immediately behind it. "Sounds like a date," he agreed. Then he frowned. "Did I really just make a date in the middle of the end of the world?"

~*~

Danny leaned against the control room door and sighed in relief.

"Good job, guys," said Lucas. "That's the control room secured."

"Yeah!" Max bounced.


Danny just shook his head. Sometimes Max had just a little too much energy.

"How about the reactor?" Lucas asked.

Trip, who was already furiously hammering away at the computer keyboard didn't spare him a glance. "Looking now."

Danny held his breath.

Minutes ticked by.

Trip's frantic movements finally slowed. "Guys?"

Danny gulped.

"We got it."

It took a moment for the smile in Trip's voice to penetrate. "You mean they haven't done anything yet?" Danny queried.

"I mean the reactor's still locked down and cold."

Danny found his knees giving way and he slid down the door.

"Now all we gotta do," said Lucas, "is keep it that way."

"No problems," said Max with a whoop.

~*~

"Reactor's secured," Katie reported.

Alex smiled in terse relief. "That's half the job done. I'd be happier if I knew where the Mutorgs were."

"We'll find them," Katie promised. "Meantime -- is it just me, or..."

"Or have we not seen hide or hair of any Putrids?" Alex finished.

A sinister, female laugh filled the air. Alex felt the hairs at the nape of his neck stand on end. He knew that laugh.

"You didn't really think," said a voice, "that Time Force could lock me away?"

It can't be... Slowly, Alex turned to face the direction the voice was coming from. "Arachna."

The female mutant spy smiled. "Not just Arachna, now, Major," she spat. "I have some new friends."

Almost as if by magic, the three Mutorgs materialised.

"Oh holy hell..." Katie mumbled.

"It looks like we win," said Master Org, coming to stand beside Arachna.

~*~

The vision came as a nasty surprise and in harsh and painful clarity.

Alex and Katie surrounded.

The three Mutorgs.

Master Org.

A female with silvery-hair and mis-matched eyes.

It was a trap!

Shayla gasped, coming back to herself to find she was lying on the temple floor, Eric hovering beside her, concern very evident in his expression.

"It's a trap!" she murmured.

"What is?"

"The power plant," Shayla answered. "It is a trap...oh my..."

The colour drained from Eric's face. "No..."

~*~

There was something wrong. Nadira could feel it. Although there were plenty of Putrids to be defeated, it didn't feel right. She knew this tactic...

"Merrick!" she yelled, urgently.

The Lunar Wolf Ranger looked up from the group of Putrids he was currently fighting. "What is it?" he asked. "Are you all right?"

"Have you ever seen this many foot soldiers?" she asked, ignoring his question.

There was a pause and another Putrid bit the dust. "Now that you mention it, no -- it is rather strange."

"It's a trap," Nadira answered. "This whole place is a trap...or a set up..."

"Are you sure?" Merrick sounded a little sceptical.

"Positive," she replied. "My father once used this tactic...he sent one of his mutants and a whole army of his foot soldiers to distract the rangers while he raided the Biolab headquarters... This is a set up!" The more she thought about it, the more she was sure.

There was a long pause, presumably while Merrick contacted one of the other rangers via the comm. system. "No-one has reported any sign of the Mutorgs," he finally said. "I believe you are right."

~*~

Jen surveyed the scene; the last of the Putrids finally dealt with -- at least in this area. Something wasn't right about this.

"That was too easy," said Kimberly, voicing Jen's own fears.


"Easy?!" Alyssa shook her head. "If this was easy..."

"And you don't think it's strange that we haven't heard anything about the Mutorgs yet?" Jen countered.

"I guess." Alyssa sighed. "So what do we do now?"

Before Jen could say anything, Wes' voice came over the comm. system.

"Has anyone heard anything from Katie or Alex?"

"What's up Wes?" Jen asked.

"Not sure," came the answer she didn't want to hear. "But I have one of those hunches."

~*~

"So easy to distract," Master Org gloated.

"And I thought you were the intelligent one," Arachna snorted.

Alex said nothing. There was nothing to say in this situation. It would only be a matter of time before the other rangers realised there was something drastically wrong, but by then it would be too late. There had to be some way out of this.

"Not so cocky now," Arachna continued. "No threats this time? I'm disappointed."

"Life is full of disappointments," Alex answered.

The mutant spat at him. "I'm gonna enjoy ripping you limb from limb for what you did to Jack."

"Oh please. You're Biocon's revenge?" Alex snorted and rolled his eyes, feigning a lack of concern. "I've had more threatening hot baths."

The Mutorg's blow was not unexpected, but it still sent him doubling over, winded and wheezing.

"You will pay," Arachna hissed. "You and Time Force and the rest of your pathetic race."

"No!"

Before Alex could say anything, Katie had launched herself at Arachna. The next moment seemed to unfold in complete slow motion. The Mutorg with the batwings -- Kired, Alex thought -- stepped in between Katie and Arachna. He caught Katie in mid-flight and to Alex's total horror, simply pivoted and flung her, like a rag-doll, into the hard, concrete wall of a nearby storage bunker.

Alex felt his heart stop at the audible crack that sounded as Katie's head struck the concrete. The concrete itself bore the scar of the impact as a crack spider-webbed its way across the wall's surface even as Katie landed in a rapidly demorphing, unconscious heap.

"See?" Arachna asked mildly. "You cannot win. You are history."

~*~

Kimberly was about to open her mouth to suggest that at least one group should head to where Alex and Katie were supposed to be when a piercing scream sounded over the comm. system.

"Oh my..." Trip's voice sounded faint. "That's Katie!"

"Who's closest to where Alex and Katie were clearing?" Kimberly found herself asking.

"That would be us," said Wes. "Cole and I are on our way."

"We're also close," put in Taylor. "We're on our way."

"What about the rest of us?" Max asked.

"We keep doing what we have been," Kimberly answered. "Until we know for sure that there is no threat here I'm damned if I'm letting them win."

~*~

Alex felt a cold anger burn through his veins.

"You win nothing," he hissed.

Arachna laughed. "And what will you do about it, Major Collins?" she sneered. "You're pathetic, weak and outnumbered."

He straightened, a plan rapidly forming. "I'd agree on the outnumbered. But the rest -- you only wish."

~*~

"Goddamn!" Ben's exclamation was soft but lacked nothing in feeling for all that.

Taylor couldn't help but agreed as she studied the scene. The three Mutorgs, Master Org and a woman she didn't recognise clearly had Alex surrounded. A few yards away, she spotted Katie's crumpled, unconscious form.

"Oh man..." Cole murmured as he and Wes joined them.

"This sucks," Wes observed.

"No shit," said Ben. "Question is; what do we do?"

~*~

Out of the corner of his eye, Alex saw Wes and Cole arrive on the scene. That was good. The final pieces of his plan fell into place. Now!

He met Arachna's gaze. "You fool."

She laughed once more. "You might wish to reconsider that -- there are five of us and one of you...and your girlfriend's all broken."

The cold flame of anger burned harder. His hand unobtrusively brushed where the plastique was tucked into his equipment belt. "And you think I'm not going to make you pay for that, Arachna? I've told you once. I don't like people trying to kill me or mine."

~*~

Kimberly wished she had a Putrid to hand to beat the crap out of. Eric's inability to do nothing was clearly infectious. "What's going on?" she finally asked.

"Not sure," came Taylor's answer. "They have Alex surrounded but...it's difficult to tell what's going on beyond that."

"They?" Kimberly echoed.

"The Mutorgs, Master Org and some woman...no wait; Master Org is leaving."

"Can you describe the woman?" queried Lucas.

"She's pale, long silvery hair...statuesque."

To Kimberly's surprise, Lucas swore vehemently. "Lucas?"

"That's Arachna..."

"And she is?"

"A woman with a grudge," Lucas replied.

"Oh my God!" Wes exclaimed. "He's not..."

~*~

"You have the man you came for," Master Org stated. "I know that when you have finished, I will have what I came for."

"Thank you, Master Org," Arachna replied. "A pleasure doing business with you."

Master Org smiled. "Goodbye, Time Force Pest." And with that, the current Org leader teleported out.

"Talking's over," Arachna stated, even before Master Org had fully left.

Alex smiled, fingers finding where the plastique's detonator was clipped to his belt. "I hoped you'd say that."

Please let this work...

~*~

"Wes? What's going on?"

But Kimberly's query went unanswered.

Wes could only stare in mute horror as the scene unfolded.

The Mutorgs closed in.

Alex lunged for the woman -- Arachna.

There was a pause.

And then the quintet vanished in a ferocious fireball.

A moment later and the explosion sounded.

TO BE CONTINUED...