Disclaimer: Very few of the characters within belong to me. You'll know which is which. I'm not making anything on any of them anyway, so nobody should get excited.

Thanks for the beta, Rach. Thanks for the characters, you two who know who you are.

Angel with Two Faces

Chapter12

Impossible. Billy's lips formed the word, but no sound issued forth.

"Impossible!" screamed Vile, his voice cracking.

But clearly it was not impossible, for there they stood, five mighty Rangers, their costumes bright even in the fiery glow of the braziers. For a moment Billy was transported back in time to the heroics of his youth, when good and evil wore no shades of gray.

For a moment only, however, and then on Goldar's shrill order his minions attacked, and the Rangers began to fight. The sense of detached déjà vu intensified as the Admiral watched the Blue and Pink Rangers break away from the group a little and fight together. Blue was clearly female, but that was the only unexpected note as he watched their bodies move in near-perfect sync, just as he and Kim had done so long ago, sending one robotic guard careening into another. Sparks flew as the guards struggled to disentangle from one another, eventually shorting out and sinking to the floor.

Yellow's moves were executed with deceptively simple precision, her graceful limbs strong and fluid, dispatching a Wes-clone with perfect ease. Billy gave a small smile. Some things never changed.

Black fought differently from the old days; there were none of Zack's showy dance moves. Instead was leashed power, impossibly long kicks and jumps that seemed to hang in the air, destruction to a Cassie-clone delivered with clean accuracy. Indeed, Black reminded him of someone else entirely.

Red leapt to the air, kicking out in a distinctive move with both legs, decapitating a robotic soldier to his left, destroying a clone to his right. He landed and as quickly was airborne again, his body hurtling and spinning as his feet and fists found their targets with deadly results, leaving a squad of six clones fizzing and jerking on the floor. Billy blinked. Some things didn't change, but he couldn't quite get even his brain around this one.

Red landed and turned to face Goldar, who stared at him as though he could see through the helmet, burn it away with his gaze. "That the best you got?"

"I should ask you the same question," Goldar hissed. "A clever ruse, Ranger, but in the end a futile one. You are not they. Your sorry substitutes cannot defeat me."

Red's chin notched up. "No?" Black reached to his helmet, unfastening the sides and pulling his head free. Scott's blue gaze met his father's and held, as Red spoke. "The spirit of the Rangers, Goldar. The son of two of the greatest of Zordon's children. You haven't broken us."

Yellow tugged her helmet off and the years fell away; Billy was both unsurprised and totally amazed by the fall of black hair streaming free, the dark, intelligent eyes assessing the situation. Goldar growled softly. "The focus," said Red. "As sharp as ever. And focused on you."

"Old and tired my ass," muttered Trini, just loud enough for them to hear. Billy found himself grinning.

Blue reached for her helmet, dropping it to the ground, throwing her honey colored braid back over her shoulder. Goldar hissed, looking from daughter to father. "That's right," said Red, his tone deeply satisfied.

"Clever indeed," the creature spat. "I admit to curiosity. How can you revive the dead?"

Pink pulled her helmet free, and Goldar went back a step. "The heart of the Rangers cannot die," Kailey said defiantly, her voice sounding familiarly fierce. Billy swallowed involuntarily, his throat suddenly thick with emotion.

"No," Goldar whispered. "You're dead." He swung his gaze to Red, who reached to his helmet. "Dead…"

Jason scowled at his old enemy. "Not any more," he said simply.

Goldar took another step backwards, his composure obviously rocked by the sight of the man he regarded as his nemesis. It didn't take long for his bluster to reassert itself, but there was no doubting that he was shaken. "It doesn't matter - you soon will be again."

Jason moved deliberately into a fighting stance. "You want some revenge?" He extended a hand and crooked his fingers, abruptly beckoning the creature. A snarl curled his upper lip. "Bring it on."

The creature gave a roar; Goldar's fists erupted in white-hot flame. A ball of searing energy exploded toward the Red Ranger. In the corner of his eye Billy saw Tommy lurch forward, as if to stop what they were sure to witness…

But between the beats of Billy's heart, Jason blurred, and then – he wasn't where he had been, but a short distance away, faster than any eye could follow. The ball of fire roared across the room and beyond, off the balcony and into space.

Vile snarled and lunged forward, driving his fist into the face of an unprepared Kailey, who went sprawling. Trini in her turn went for Vile but was tackled from the side by the Admiral's greatest nightmare: a clone of himself. Her head contacted the floor hard; the Billy-clone pressed his advantage, curling his hands around her throat and thumping her head on the ground.

Across the room a familiar, black-clad blonde-haired clone leapt onto Scott's back with a shriek. The glint of steel glittered high in the air, clenched in the Kat-clone's fist, then plunged downward, driving deep into his shoulder. Tommy struggled mightily, his eyes glued to his son, who had gone to one knee, still grappling with the screaming harpy.

Miri reached for Jason and they locked forearm to forearm, and then she swung herself forward. As she kicked out he stepped back and pivoted, carrying her through a powerful arc, around and behind, where her feet nailed the back of Vile's head, hard. He went sprawling forward, tumbling over Kailey's head.

Kailey scrambled to her feet and dove after him, grasping the middle of his armor and pulling him over her to throw him against a brazier, which exploded and showered him with flame and embers. Vile howled and rolled frantically as he began to burn. "You bitch! I'll kill you!"

She rolled her shoulders and rubbed her jaw where he'd punched her, her brown eyes narrowing. "You can try."

A red figure erupted from the shadows near Scott; for a second Billy thought it was Jason, but he was wrong. Kat jerked her clone from her son's back and threw her against a wall. "I told you," she snarled, clasping her hands into a single fist, "leave –" she swung like a Major Leaguer, connecting mightily with the clone's chin, "my son –" a second swing, up and hard, driving the clone's head against the wall, "alone!" Kat lashed out with a long leg in a side kick, nailing the clone in her chest. The clone rebounded off the wall, gurgled, and sank to the floor, fizzing.

Trini kicked up and out, dislodging the Billy-clone and rolling away. He came after her, catching her by the ankle; she twisted around and caught him across the face with her other foot, and he lost his grip. Trini rolled easily to her feet. The Billy-clone smiled and wiped away a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. "He always wanted you, you know," he said conversationally. "My progenitor. He's wanted you for years."

"You shut the hell up!" shouted the real Billy. "Kill him, Tri!"

She didn't lose her focus on her target, but Billy saw her grin before flipping into a handstand and locking her legs around the clone's neck, pulling him forward off balance. He tumbled over her to hit the floor, winded; her legs remained locked in place.

The Billy-clone struggled wildly, his face purpling; Trini jerked her legs; there was an audible snap, and then the sound of fizzing.

She rolled away and went immediately into a ready position as Vile reached over his head, grasped the iron pole which supported the brazier, and rocketed to his feet, taking a swing at Kailey, who dodged. Trini jumped high in a flying roundhouse aimed at Vile's head, but it went slightly wide and he brought up the brazier suddenly, catching Trini's leg and throwing her to the ground. She landed awkwardly and rolled, clutching her thigh.

Kailey's eyes went wide and she flew at Vile, ignoring the swinging brazier, launching herself at him. Vile dropped the iron pole and staggered back under her attack, managing to get his hands between them, grasping her throat and throttling her. Kailey gripped Vile's windpipe and began to choke him as well.

Behind them, Scott looked frantically about, then tucked himself into a roll on his good shoulder, coming up with the brazier pole in his hands. He stepped once, pivoted, and with his teeth bared in a feral snarl, jammed the pole right through Vile's back.

Billy could see the glistening end protruding from his stomach as Vile's grip slackened and he dropped Kailey, who went to her hands and knees, struggling for air. Scott staggered with Vile's sudden weight on the end of the iron pole; he dropped it and Vile went to the floor, jerking spasmodically, his eyes rolling back in his head.

At the same time Billy felt hands at his back, disposing of his shackles and helping him to his feet. He turned and managed to get his arms around his daughter, though they felt like lead weights. She pulled back and looked at him. Her lower lip trembled slightly before she got it under control.

"I'm sorry, baby girl," he rasped.

The room rocked, sending them both staggering. The low, distinctive whine of an IRF attack ship, creamed overhead, followed by a series of explosions a short distance away.

Next to them, Kat was helping Tommy to his feet. "Honestly, Oliver, the things you do to get out of an argument," she mock-scolded, the last part muffled against his shoulder as he pulled her close in a fierce hug.

"Kat…" was all Tommy said that was audible. Another blast rocked the palace.

A flash of red across the room caught their attention as Jason spun and planted a foot in Goldar's midsection, sending his adversary back. Goldar's hands were still alight with deadly white-hot flame; he swung at Jason, and again, which the Red Ranger easily sidestepped, almost as though he was anticipating his opponent's every move.

Jason flipped backward to give himself some space, landing in a ready stance. Goldar growled and powered up his hands, hurling a ball of lethal energy at Jason, who slipped to one side in a blur of motion. Another explosion sent them all reeling; Jason staggered directly into the path of Goldar's projectile, and Billy gasped.

Not Miri, though. She darted forward a few steps and scooped up a round shield that had fallen from the weapons rack flanking the near side of the throne, and with a grunt flung it like a bizarre medieval Frisbee. It collided with the fireball, scattering the energy as Jason tucked and rolled free of the flying particles.

Around them, draperies ignited as the energy hit them, erupting suddenly into flame. Billy cursed volubly. "Time to go."

Tommy nodded, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Come on, Jase! Wrap that son of a bitch up!"

Jason spared him a grin, weaving to dodge a flaming fist again. "You got it." He held out one hand, palm open.

Without warning a nearby brazier flew into his grip as though magnetized. Tommy and Billy exchanged startled glances. Jason swung it around, scattering fire in a glowing arc and clubbing Goldar hard in the side. The creature fell against the wall with a grunt.

Another blast knocked over the weapons racks, scattering their contents across the floor.

"It's the end, Goldar," cried Jason, pinning him in place with the brazier.

"Your end, Ranger," Goldar roared.

Miri screamed. "Jason – Vile!"

Goldar's minion was pulling himself up, his fingers scrabbling for a blaster that had skittered toward him. He aimed and pulled the trigger. An arc of deadly energy torpedoed toward Jason.

Time seemed to slow down.

Like lightning Jason threw himself to the side, diving through the air in a flip that took him out of the path of danger. Goldar's expression became one of astonished indignation as the blast of energy hit him directly in the chest.

With a snarl that became a groan, Goldar incinerated Vile's body, then slid slowly to the floor.

Kailey helped Scott out to the balcony, the only place not filled with flames, then ran back for her mother. Kat nodded, coughing. "Smart kid. Come on, stubborn, we'll be safer there than here." She shrugged Tommy's arm over her shoulder and hustled him to the balcony, dodging embers as the draperies and the clothing of the clones sputtered and burned. Miri and Billy went to follow suit.

Jason knelt by Goldar, his fingers glowing gently. "I can help you."

Goldar shifted, rearing back, grunting as the life slowly drained from him. "Don't touch me!" he snarled. "You seek to cleanse me, to purge me of my power… you shall not have the satisfaction."

Jason shook his head. "You're wrong, Goldar. I didn't want this. I wanted the killing to stop."

Goldar eyed him for a minute or two. "I shall return from the abyss, Ranger. Do not doubt it."

"I don't." Jason stood. "And when you do, I'll be here."

Abruptly, the creature began to smolder, smoke, and then flames erupted from the body, consuming him to ash in moments as they watched.

Another concussive shudder shook the palace, and a large stone beam fell into the throne room with a loud crash, sending Billy and Miri staggering back. Behind them a deep voice said "I've got you, love," and then they found themselves somehow propelled to the relative safety of the balcony, watching with the others as the throne room went up in smoke.

Billy raised an eyebrow at Jason. "Thanks, honey pie," he said dryly.

Miri snorted; Jason grinned, but retained hold of Miri's hand.

Billy eyed the pair. "Oh. Uh uh. No, no way. I know far too much about you as a teenager to let you near my daughter, Jase."

Miri gave him a look, then tugged her hand free. "I think we have more important things to consider right now anyway, like getting out of here."

As if in direct response to her assertion, the familiar shape of Nemesis rose from below the balcony. They could see Taylor, Eric, Cassie, Wes, a slightly mussed Maya and a half-naked Ba'altesch inside, waving. The Qetren activated his comm.

"Admiral, once you are safely on board, I wonder if we could discuss increasing the elasticity of the uniform polymers?"