*It really is poetic justice,* Andros thought. For nearly a year, the Power Rangers had been scouring the universe in search of their kidnaped mentor, Zordon, while the forces of evil had shuttled him from one hiding place to another in an effort to keep him from getting found. Now the situation was reversed: the Power Rangers were working to keep Zordon hidden, while the villains of the universe tried vainly to relocate him. The young heroes had already fended off several attacks from various quarters, but the forces of evil were disorganized and weakened by lack of strong leadership. To add to the irony, the downfall of the alliance of evil was due largely to one of their former members. It made Andros smile just thinking about it.
In the meantime, the Rangers had been adjusting to having Zordon around. None of them had ever had the opportunity to become well acquainted with him. It took quite a bit of adjusting to get used to conversing with a floating blue head...even though they had all been told that what they were seeing of him was not entirely what he was. It was only a projection of him, an image used mainly for convenience, just to give people something more or less concrete to look at. The reality was considerably more complex, and Zordon declined to give more than a vague explanation of what he truly was. Still, they had all come to accept his presence, and now it seemed like he should have been part of their little group all along.
All of these thoughts went through Andros's mind as he was passing by the room where Zordon resided and had overheard the wizard conversing with Kerone. Out in the hall, he couldn't make out any of what was being said, but there was no mistaking Kerone's gentle voice or Zordon's oddly echoing one. Since Zordon had arrived on the ship, Kerone had formed a special friendship with the wizard. It was not unusual for the two to be found conversing for hours together. It seemed rather strange that two such different people got along so well, but Andros was pleased that his sister had found such a good friend.
For a while, Andros just stood and listened. It turned out to be a mistake. The good mood he had been trying so hard to maintain evaporated almost at once, as his thoughts drifted back to his dreams of the night before...of the last several nights, in fact. It was always the same dream, a chilling distortion of the events that had taken place the first time around on November 21, 1998, Earth time. On that fateful day, the two people who were currently talking to each other in the next room had both died by Andros's own hand, and it had only been through the wildest of twists of fate and time-space that they had been brought back. Kerone never talked about it, and Andros wasn't even sure if Zordon could remember it had ever happened...but maybe he could. Zordon had ways of knowing things that sometimes defied explanation. It had never been Andros's intention to hurt anyone, but the circumstances were beyond his control. In his dream, though, things were different. His dream-self took a malicious pleasure in what he did, in listening to the last, terrified screams of the ones his waking self held so dear. Night after night, he would awake from these nightmares in a cold sweat, feeling sick. It was getting so he was afraid to go to sleep at night, because he knew he would have to go through with the dream again if he did. Every time, it seemed to get worse. Andros wondered what the dreams meant. He didn't think he could take them much longer.
Andros was so preoccupied that he didn't even notice that there was a shadow in the hall in a place where no shadows should have been. He didn't see it move. He didn't hear it laugh softly as he passed by...
*Is something bothering you, Red Ranger? Have you got something unpleasant on your mind? Don't worry, mortal. In a little while, all your troubles will be over!*
No one had ever told Kerone that the universe was expanding. If they had told her that a few months ago, she might not have believed it. Her world had been a distressingly narrow place, with no available options but to destroy or be destroyed, and to acquire as much as possible before someone else took it first. These days, however, she would have accepted the idea without hesitation. At the moment, her horizons were expanding at what seemed to her to be a rate that was almost alarming.
Some of the expansions in her life were good. She was learning so many new things: how to swim, how to ride a bicycle, how to play video games, and a multitude of other little enjoyments that ordinary Earth people had learned when they were children. She was also constantly learning and relearning that it was not necessary to be lonely. She had such good friends! Her brother, the other Rangers, Zordon, and even Alpha 6 had become major parts of her life that she couldn't imagine doing without.
However, there were other expansions in her life that were troublesome. She was having to relinquish a few long-held notions, never an easy thing for anyone to do. Zordon, for example, had taken a lot of getting used to. When she was young, she had formed a vague image in her mind that Zordon was some kind of horrifying bogeyman, akin to the things that went bump in the night but on a much grander scale, and getting over her fear of him had taken some doing. Fortunately, Zordon was patient with her, and now she considered herself very fortunate to have befriended him. He was a good listener, and she found herself telling him details about her life that she had withheld from her other friends for one reason and another. He replied in turn by telling her stories from his own past. She had once remarked on how unusual it seemed that a former evil princess had become such good friends with one of the universe's leading champions of Good. Zordon had responded only by saying that she reminded him of his own sister, his confidant when he was young. Kerone found it hard to imagine Zordon ever being young, or having a sister, but she was flattered nonetheless.
Still, there was yet another complication involved. There had been a time in the not-too- distant past when Kerone had thought that the only person who could understand her - really understand her - was Zhane. Now, that idea was being called into question. During her brief but eventful stay on planet Imberwyst, Kerone had made a special friend of Carlos. At first, she had been delighted, but somewhere along the line a new idea had occurred to her. It was true that Zhane understood her, but so did Carlos. So did Zordon, for that matter. Now she had to wonder, was what she felt for Zhane real, true love, or only some normal thing associated with friendship? This whole realm of friendship and love was new to her, and she was having to play it by ear. She argued with herself. Zhane was a good and loyal friend, but so was Carlos. Zhane was attractive, but Carlos was, too, in his way. Zhane's prankish antics made her laugh when she was down, but Carlos was always prepared to help her solve difficult problems. She just couldn't seem to decide how she really felt about either of them.
*Decisions, decisions,* she thought to herself. She decided to table the matter. She would just have to take things as they came.
Blackwind laughed to himself as he gently stroked the gleaming crystal he held. It gave off little glimmers of light as he touched it. At first glance, the crystal seemed to be nothing more than a strange gem, impressive in size and luminosity, but only a bit of magically created rock for all that. Appearances were deceiving in this case, however. The crystal, along with its three counterparts, was no ordinary crystal, no more than Blackwind was an ordinary ghost.
*It has been so long, so very long...* Blackwind whispered to himself. *But I will not be like this much longer. I will have my true self back again! And once my powers have been restored, no force in the universe will stop me from taking back what Dark Specter stole from me all these centuries ago, not even the Power Rangers. Especially not the Power Rangers!* His laughter was no more than a hiss of air, all he could manage in his ephemeral state. All that, however, was going to change...and the Red Ranger was going to help.
Blackwind had not always been a ghost. He wasn't even sure he was a ghost now, but he didn't know what else to call himself. He was not even a shadow of his true self, now, only a swirling, shifting patch of blackness with a mind, a voice, a small amount of magic, and four crystals that were among the most evil and deadly things in the universe.
Once upon a time, Blackwind had been the crown prince of a small planet in one of the more remote regions of the universe. He had possessed everything anyone should have wanted. He had certainly lacked nothing in material possessions; he had more money than he knew how to count, much less spend. He had been uncommonly handsome and charming - a real ladies' man, in fact. He had possessed a wide circle of friends and admirers. If power meant anything (and to him, it did), he had a great deal, not just politically but magically and physically as well. He should have been content - and perhaps he would have if it hadn't been for his younger brother Sungrass.
It was rather unfortunate all around that Sungrass happened to be his father's favorite. The lanky and likeable younger prince was by far the most popular of the two, and Blackwind had resented it. When the king had decided to step down from the throne, he chose to ignore the custom of passing the crown to his oldest son and made Sungrass king instead. Blackwind had been furious, and had looked to dark magic as the answer to his problem. Within a few years, he gained enough power to overthrow his brother and lay waste to the entire planet...and then he had moved onward.
At that point in the distant past, the union of monsters was still being formed in disorganized fits and starts. It was a time of opportunities, and Blackwind was nothing if not opportunistic. However, others were looking for ways to get ahead as well, including a certain creature of uncertain origin who called himself the Dark Specter. The monsters were divided: some felt that Blackwind would make the better leader, while others supported Dark Specter. Competition between the two was fierce, often resulting in violent battles. Many of the villains were impressed that Blackwind could hold his own against something so much larger and stronger than he, and the number of his supporters grew quickly. At last, Dark Specter devised a plan that would rid him of his rival forever.
The plan involved a crystal, which, Dark Specter informed everyone, was a source of tremendous power. He let it be known that without it, his abilities would be severely limited, and placed a number of guards and traps around it, knowing full well that Blackwind was more than capable of thwarting them all. Blackwind should have realized that something was wrong, but he was vain and overconfident, and he walked right into the trap with a smile on his soon-to-be nonexistent face.
The crystal was indeed a source of power, in it's way. It had the ability to drain away the essence of a person's heart, body, mind, and spirit, leaving nothing but a powerless shade. Blackwind had realized this as soon as he touched it, but even then it was almost too late to save himself. Summoning all of his strength, he split the crystal into four shards, each one containing a large part of himself, and run away with them. Dark Specter became Monarch of Darkness, and Blackwind became only a legend.
But Blackwind had won in the end! Dark Specter was dead and gone, and Blackwind still lived! At first, there had been no noticeable change, but over the centuries, the power of the crystals had dwindled until he became nothing more than a dim shadow of his former self. He had lived through centuries of non-life, stripped of all physical being, unable to touch or carry anything but his precious crystal shards. Over that time, he had visited many places and learned much, and now at last he knew how to restore himself! There was still magic in the crystals, magic that could be used to return what had been taken from him. The catch was that they had to have a power source - a living, breathing power source, for only life could beget life. His power sources would have to be carefully chosen. They could recharge his crystals by only carrying them a few hours, empowering them with the desire and force of life. The stronger the source of power, the more strength it would return to him, and there was no force in the universe more powerful than teenagers with attitude...
In a way, the arrival of morning was a blessed relief, but in another way, it came all too soon. Andros had spent another miserable night torn between the need for sleep and the fear of his nightmares. He was not in the best of moods at breakfast that morning.
"Hi, Andros!" greeted T.J. "Sleep well?"
"No! Don't bug me about it," Andros snapped.
"Sheesh! You don't have to bite my head off," said T.J.
"I'm sorry," Andros apologized. "I really am. I...I guess I'm not feeling so good this morning."
"Are you sick?" asked T.J. with genuine concern.
"I don't think so," said Andros. "No, that's not right. I know I'm not sick. It's just...I don't know how to explain it. I keep having this dream, and it's driving me crazy."
"Do you want to talk about it?" T.J. asked.
"I don't even want to think about it. It's just so terrible...T.J., do you think I'm a good person?"
T.J. had to stifle the urge not to laugh. It was only the desperation in his friend's eyes that kept him serious. "Of course I do, Andros! You're one of the best people I know."
"You think so? I'm not sure..."
"Andros, I don't know why you're asking me this, because the idea is completely off-base. Trust me!"
"Well, maybe, but...every night for nearly a week, I've had the same dream. Not exactly the same, though. It gets worse every time I have it," said Andros. He was having difficulty getting the words out. His mind was fuzzy and confused from lack of sleep, or perhaps something more. "In this dream, I see myself hurting people, people I care about. At first, it was Zordon and Kerone. You know what happened the first time we had that battle...I killed both of them. In my dreams, I do it all again, but I'm enjoying it! I'm laughing at them the whole time! And then I started seeing the time, way back on KO-35, when Zhane saved my life, taking that hit for me and all. I see him do that, but instead of helping him, I just stand there and laugh while that monster attacks him and...I can't even say it. But last night was the worst, somehow. It wasn't just the other stuff last night. I can deal with that, in a way, because I can tell myself it's all just a dream. But last night, I was reliving all my old battles. You wouldn't think that's so bad, would you? You'd think that would be fun, that I'd feel proud of myself. But you know, whenever I destroyed a monster, I laughed and celebrated. I killed something, and I was happy about it. It was the exact same feeling I felt in those other dreams...maybe I do feel sick after all..."
T.J. listened in sympathetic silence. He didn't feel like laughing anymore.
"Come on, Andros, calm down. Listen to me. Those dreams aren't real. They aren't anywhere close to real. I won't deny that everyone has a dark side - you, me, everyone. Doing good wouldn't mean anything if we didn't. But you aren't the kind of person who lets your dark side control you. You've got to remember that you've never purposely harmed anyone or anything without a really good reason. No one can be totally good, but you come a whole lot closer than a bunch of the people I know."
"You think so?" asked Andros.
"Would I lie to you?" T.J. replied. "Besides, if you really were a bad person, you wouldn't be having this guilt trip, would you?"
"Well, I guess not."
"Andros, there's nothing wrong with you but a hyperactive subconscious," T.J. asserted. "Don't let it get you down. You'll get through it. And maybe you should have a talk with Alpha, see if he's got something in the infirmary to help you sleep better."
"I'll do that," Andros replied. "Thanks, T.J. You're a real friend."
"Don't mention it," T.J. replied. "And, hey! I've just come up with an idea. Let me make a phone call, and meet me again this afternoon. I just might have a surprise for you."
"I'll look forward to it," said Andros. He walked away, humming cheerfully, certain that his troubles would soon be over.
Blackwind hissed with cruel laughter. *Oh, yes, my dear Red Ranger, we all have our dark side. You won't be able to escape yours so easily, not while I'm around!* His powers had been severely limited by his accident, but he was Blackwind, a Master of Air, and the realm of dreams was still his domain.
*I hope you've been enjoying the visions I've sent you, Ranger, for soon enough, they will be your reality!*
Karone came into her room to find Zhane sitting at her desk.
"Zhane, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Waiting for you."
"Well, could you come back later? I want to get cleaned up and change my clothes, if you don't mind."
"Where have you been all day?" asked Zhane. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"I went to the park with Carlos," Karone explained. "He's teaching me how to play soccer."
"I didn't know you wanted to play soccer."
"I want to learn everything I can, and it was fun."
"I'll bet. You played soccer for three hours straight?"
"Well, of course not! We did stop and eat lunch. We went to that place near the beach - what's it called again?"
"The Surf Spot," Zhane reminded her. "So you played soccer all morning and went to lunch. Who paid?"
"He did, of course," said Karone. "You know I don't have any money."
"That sounds like a date to me."
"Zhane! How can you even think such a thing? You know I wouldn't do that to you."
"I wouldn't think it if you didn't make it so easy for me. You've been spending an awful lot of time with him lately."
Karone looked at the ceiling in exasperation. "I've been spending time with Zordon, too. Are you going to suggest I'm dating him next? Honestly, Zhane, you're being unreasonable. Carlos is my friend. Of course I'm going to want to spend time with him! But that doesn't mean he's going to replace you. Now, please go away."
"I'm going," said Zhane, "but you'd better think carefully while I'm gone. Don't make the wrong decision."
"There's no decision to make," Karone replied. "You're the only one for me. You know that."
The door to her room slid shut. Karone collapsed onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow. She had been trying to keep it out of her mind, but Zhane's thinly veiled accusations were stirring up her own doubts. She was trying to be truthful to Zhane, but how could she when she wasn't even sure what she was feeling herself?
"What if he's right?" she whispered. "What if he's right?"
"So, T.J., what's the big surprise?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" T.J. replied.
T.J. and Andros were making their way down a peaceful little suburban street with rows of neat houses on either side. Andros was not quite sure what was going to happen, but he had a feeling it would be interesting. Despite questioning, T.J. had declined to give so much as a hint as to what his surprise was, saying only that Andros would figure it out soon enough.
At length, they came to a small house near the end of the lane, distinguishable from the others by the fact that the front lawn needed mowing, there were no flowers growing around its walls or in hanging baskets, and there was a very impressive automobile parked in the driveway.
"Here we are!" T.J. announced.
"Where's here?" asked Andros.
"A good friend of mine lives here sometimes, when he's not on the road," T.J. replied. "I want you to meet him. If anyone can help you out, he can."
T.J. opened the door and ushered Andros inside. "Hello! Anyone home?" he called.
"Just a minute!" a voice called back. "Just make yourself at home."
With a casual shrug, T.J. took a seat at the kitchen table and gestured for Andros to do the same. Andros sat, and, just to pass the time, began to inspect the premises. For the most part, it was a Spartan environment with sparse furnishings and neutral colors, but there were splashes of color that caught his eye. Through an open door, he could see a living room decorated in shades of pale green. A wooden shelf displayed a number of shiny golden trophies, some for karate tournaments and some displaying cars and checkered flags. More interesting to Andros was a large, framed photograph of what he assumed were Power Rangers from some other time. On the table in front of him, among a jumble of bills and junk mail, was an open envelope containing a piece of folded pink stationary and a photograph of a pretty young lady. According to the return address, the letter had come from London, and had been written by someone named Katherine Hillard.
"His girlfriend," T.J. explained, following his friend's gaze. "She's nice. I met her a couple of times."
Just then, a smiling young man walked in. "Hi! Sorry to keep you guys waiting. I was working on my car a while ago, and I was trying to get cleaned up. Man, I haven't seen you in a long time, T.J. How have you been?"
"I've been great," T.J. replied. "By the way, I'd like to introduce my friend Andros. Andros, this is Tommy."
"Glad to meet you," said Tommy. The two young men shook hands. "T.J. tells me you have a problem. Is that right?"
"Yeah. Can you help me?"
"Well, that depends on what the problem is," Tommy replied. "T.J. didn't tell me much on the phone. Oh, is there anything I can get you guys? A cola or something?"
"Cola?" Andros repeated, momentarily perplexed. "Oh, you mean a soda. Yes, please."
Tommy looked at T.J. quizzically.
"Andros is from outer space," T.J. explained. "Sometimes he still gets a little mixed up."
"Oh, I see," said Tommy. He walked over to the fridge and began to rummage around inside.
"He didn't seem very surprised," Andros commented to T.J.
"He shouldn't be," said T.J. "Don't worry, Andros. You can tell Tommy anything. I wouldn't have brought you to him if you couldn't."
"How about you, T.J.?" called Tommy from the depths of the refrigerator. "Do you want something to drink?"
"No, but thanks anyway," T.J. replied. "You two can talk better without me here. I'll see you some other time, okay?"
"Okay, T.J. It was nice seeing you. Come back some other time and I'll give you and your friends tickets to my next race," Tommy replied.
T.J. said goodbye and left. After he had gone, Tommy brought two dark red cans from the fridge and handed one to Andros.
"Hope you like this stuff. It's all I've got," he said. "I wasn't really expecting company. Let's talk in the living room. It's a little more comfortable than any of the other rooms in this place."
Andros had no objection to this, so they both went into the other room. They sat across from each other on either side of a small coffee table. Tommy's chair was under the Power Rangers picture, and he noticed Andros looking at it.
"Pretty cool, don't you think?" he asked. "Those were the good old days! I'm happy now, but I still sort of miss being a part of the team."
"You were a Power Ranger once?" Andros asked in surprise.
"For nearly five years," Tommy replied, "and I was the leader for most of that time."
"I'm impressed," said Andros. "Being a Power Ranger is hard work, I know."
"Really hard, sometimes," Tommy replied. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
"Well, I don't exactly know how to start. It's just that...well, like I said, it's hard being a Ranger, and lately I've been wondering if I'm good enough. These last few nights, I've been having these awful dreams..."
Slowly and painfully, Andros explained to his new friend the content of his nightmares and explained his fears to his attentive listener. When he had finished, Tommy got up and walked over to a bookshelf.
"Let me show you something," said Tommy. "Now where did I put that...aha! Here we go!" He pulled a battered old scrapbook down from its shelf and set it down on the table. Almost reverently, he opened it to a page containing a carefully preserved piece of newspaper. "Here! Have a look at this."
Andros looked. There was a picture depicting a person in a green costume of a familiar style. The headline read, "Green Ranger Attacks Warehouse District." Flipping through a few other pages showed him more of the same.
"What is this?" Andros asked.
"That's how I got my start," said Tommy. "That person there is me, the infamous Green Ranger."
"You were one of the villains?" asked Andros incredulously.
"For a little while...but obviously, I didn't stay there. It was probably the hardest thing I've ever done, trying to get past everything I did during that time, but I did get over it, and the next few years were the best times of my life. But it was worth it. Turn the page."
Andros did as he was told, and found a different picture. It was very similar to the one on the wall, depicting five Rangers rallied together behind a sixth in white and gold armor. The Green Ranger was conspicuously absent.
"Is that one you?" asked Andros, pointing at the White Ranger.
"Yeah. The new leader of the team. It was one of the proudest moments of my life. Now, if I could have a stellar career as leader of the Power Rangers after everything I did, imagine what you can do."
Andros left Tommy's house feeling a whole lot better. Between T.J.'s support and Tommy's story, he felt confident that he would be okay, that everything would work out all right. He also felt tired. After not getting a decent night's sleep in days, he felt entitled to a nap. Confident that his nightmare was already a thing of the past, he went to his room, took off his boots and jacket, and curled up peacefully in his bed.
*...The sword he held in his hands glowed like a strip of steel lightning, slashing through everything in its path. He was dressed in armor, shiny black armor trimmed in crimson. All around him, shadowy enemies tried to attack him, but nothing could pierce his invincible armor. He could defy gravity, moving with impossible speed and precision. The glowing sword shattered his enemies's weapons as if they were dry sticks and mowed the wielders down like grass. It didn't matter who he was fighting or why; nothing mattered but the joy of movement, strength, and victory. He laughed out loud. He had never felt so able and confident. He felt like he could do anything! It wouldn't have mattered to him if the battle never ended.
But there was someone who did want it to end. His sister was suddenly beside him, grabbing his arm and pulling it, trying to stop him from using his beautiful sword.
"Andros! Andros, stop it, please!" she begged.
But Andros did not want to stop. With a powerful pull, he threw her off balance, and she fell into a deep crevice at his feet. He laughed again. No one would ever stop him now, no one...*
Lurking in the shadows, Blackwind gave a whispery laugh. *You won't get away from me so easily, Red Ranger!* he said. *You will belong to me soon, and nothing you or your friends can do will save you!*
When Andros awakened from his dream, he was feeling less than refreshed. It seemed his dreams were going to be harder to get rid of than he had thought. Still, this one was a little different than the others. There was something exhilarating about it. Even though he was terrified by the idea that he had the capacity to cause such widespread destruction, it frightened him even more to realize that he had been enjoying it. Even now, he could feel the weight of the armor on his body and the sword in his hands...yet he had moved like a dancer, like the wind, like no weight in the world could have held him down. He had felt such power, such freedom, and a part of him longed to feel it again. Feeling uneasy, unrefreshed, and with a slight headache, he left his room for dinner, hoping that a good meal and a change of scenery would help to clear his thoughts.
Even before he reached the room that housed the synthetron, he heard the sound of voices raised in disagreement. Coming closer, he recognized them as belonging to Zhane and Karone.
"...for the last time, I'm telling you, I am not cheating on you!"
"Oh, yeah? Well then, why this 'Let's just be friends' business all of a sudden?"
"I've already told you, it has nothing to do with Carlos. It's just that I'm a little confused right now, and I don't want to be committed to anyone until I understand what I'm doing. It just wouldn't be fair to you."
"This isn't fair to me! Do you expect me to just sit and twiddle my thumbs and wait for you to come back while you go traipsing off after some other guy?"
"I never said anything about doing that! That's your idea."
"Just what is going on in here?" Andros snapped.
"Its all her fault!" "It's all his fault!" Zhane and Karone both tried to tell their sides of the story at once. Andros put his hands over his ears.
"QUIET!" he yelled. "One at a time!"
"Your sister's been cheating on me!" Zhane yelled.
"I was not!"
"Whatever you call it, you're dumping me for no good reason."
"I am not! I just said-"
"I don't care what you said. I know what you meant. It means I'm out and he's in."
"No! Andros, tell him I'm not cheating on him."
"Tell her she's being selfish!"
"Tell him he's being even worse!"
"Tell her-"
"SHUT UP!" Andros just couldn't take anymore. "Stop shouting at me! Stop shouting! Just stop!" He raised one fist angrily.
"Andros!" Karone grabbed his arm. "Andros, please don't!"
Without really meaning to, Andros wrenched his arm free of her grip. She lost her balance and fell, crashing into the table. She struck her head on the bench and slumped to the floor, unconscious.
Andros stared at her a moment, uncomprehending. As the reality of what he had just done sunk in, his face paled. With a look of terror, he ran out of the room.
The sun was setting. Most of the people in this part of Angel Grove had closed up their businesses and gone home to their families. It was very lonely...which was fine with Andros. He didn't want any people around. For the moment, he just wanted to run and run until he had exhausted the flight instinct and worked the terror out of his body.
*A dream come true...people always talk like that's such a good thing,* he thought, *but not for me...* In retrospect, the dreams seemed like warnings. He had seen that he would hurt his sister, and he had. He had nearly hurt his own best friend for no good reason, just because he was stressed and angry and felt like attacking something.
*Maybe...maybe my dark side really is getting out of control!* he thought. He shuddered.
At last, he could run no further, and he stopped to catch his breath. Once his breathing returned to normal and his heart had stopped pounding in his ears, he became aware that someone was watching him.
"Hello? Who's there?" he called.
*A friend,* a voice replied. The voice was soft, barely a whisper.
"Where are you? I can't see you."
*Often, that which is most important is unseen,* whispered the voice. *However, I am an expert at seeing the unseen. For example, I can see that you are afraid.*
Andros looked around nervously. "Quit playing games. Come out where I can see you."
In the deepest shadows, something stirred. From out of a dark alley came...a shadow. A bit of shapeless darkness, nothing more.
"What are you?" asked Andros, aghast.
*I am only a wandering spirit, the ghost of one who was once the greatest sorcerer in the universe. Now, I am but a shade of a my former self, with only a tiny fraction of my former powers...but I have enough to help you with your present difficulty.*
"Why would you want to help me?"
*I want to be your friend,* the shadow said smoothly. *We can help each other.*
"I don't need your help, thanks," said Andros, backing slowly away.
*Don't you? Don't you want to know how to rid yourself of your nightmares?*
"How did you know about that?"
The shadow laughed. *My good man, I am an Aeromancer, a Master of Air. I know everyone's dreams. I know what your problem is, and I can help you.*
"What do you mean?" Andros asked, curious in spite of himself.
*Just look at these,* the shadow replied. From out of nowhere, it produced four crystals, each the circumference of a quarter and faceted like diamonds. They were in vivid colors: blood red, fire blue, topaz, amethyst. Fascinated by the brilliant gems, Andros put out one hesitant hand to touch the red crystal. The shadow quickly whisked it away.
*No, that wouldn't do you any good. That is the Blood Crystal, something you might want to avoid,* it said. *What you want is this: the Soul Crystal!*
It held up the blue gem for Andros to get a closer look. It flashed like a handheld star. Its depths seemed cool and tranquil, like a clear pool of still water.
"It's beautiful," said Andros. He was forgetting his uneasiness with the strange specter. The crystal was so incredibly dazzling, and the shadow, though eerie to look at, had a friendly and sophisticated voice and manner that inspired confidence. "What does it do?"
*It very powerful magic,* the shade said gravely. *You need only to carry it close to you for a little while, and it will separate what is good in you from what is bad. Imagine: your dark side can be locked away in this gem forever, and you will be free!*
Andros was astounded. It seemed to good to be true... but he wanted it to be true. "Is it possible?" he whispered.
*Of course it's possible,* the shadow replied. *Didn't Zordon do the same thing for others?*
"You know about that?"
*Of course. I told you, I can see your thoughts and dreams. This magic is much the same as his. The Soul Crystal is part of my life force. I am no longer capable of using it. I want you to use it for me, and we will both reap its benefits.*
It sounded fair to Andros. He had a trusting nature, and he wanted so desperately to be free of these terrible dreams that he would have at least considered making a deal with anyone. He nodded and took the crystal. It was cool, and it tingled like electricity on his skin. He almost swore he could see the shadow smile.
*You may go to sleep tonight without fear,* it said. *I assure you, your dreams will trouble you no longer.*
"Thanks a lot," said Andros with genuine gratitude.
*No,* the shadow replied. *It is I who should be thanking you. Go now. Your friends will be worried about you.*
With a nod of acknowledgment, Andros teleported back to the ship.
While Andros had been having his conversation with Blackwind, the other Rangers had all been concerned with Karone. Zhane had carried her to the infirmary in hopes that Alpha could do something to help her. All the Rangers waited patiently for the robot's diagnosis. At last, he finished his battery of tests and announced that there was no permanent damage. Everyone breathed a little easier after that announcement, but they were still concerned about their leader's actions.
"It really isn't like Andros to snap like that," Ashley remarked.
"I guess everybody loses it once in a while," answered Carlos.
"You gotta give him a break," said T.J. "He hasn't been feeling too well these last few days...he's sort of stressed out. Being yelled at was probably the last straw."
"I guess we were being a little rough on him," Zhane admitted.
"What were you guys shouting about, anyway?" asked Cassie. "I could hear you all the way off in my room!"
"It was...nothing," said Zhane. "Nothing at all."
"Well, as long as Karone's going to be okay, I guess we all ought to get back to what we were doing," said T.J. "No sense in letting our guard down."
"Shouldn't one of us stay here with her and, you know, keep an eye on her?" asked Zhane.
Cassie gave him a knowing look. "And I suppose you want to volunteer for the job?"
Zhane shrugged. "Why not? I've finished all my duties for today, and it is kind of my fault, in a way."
"Suit yourself," said T.J. The other Rangers wandered off to tend to their own business, leaving Zhane to his vigil.
For many minutes, he simply sat, thinking. He and Karone had disagreed before. Actually, their first date - such as it was - had resulted in a fairly violent argument. Much later, they had talked about the incident and put the pieces together. Neither one had known the full story until then, and knowing the truth had made them wish they had talked things out sooner. That time, it had been Karone who had been unwilling to listen, but thinking of that incident made Zhane wonder if maybe this time it was he who was being unfair.
At last, Karone began to stir. Her eyes flickered open, and she brought one hand up to gingerly touch the large bump on her head.
"Ow..." she whimpered. "Not again! And I just got healed up from the last time, too."
"Are you okay?" Zhane asked.
"I guess so," she answered. "First circuit boxes, now this. What happened?"
"You...had a little accident," said Zhane. "We kinda had an argument, and things kinda got out of hand."
"That's right. I remember now... Zhane?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you still angry at me?"
"Not really," Zhane replied. "I'm just a little confused...but I'm willing to listen, if you want to try to explain."
"I don't quite know what's wrong with me. I just can't decide how I feel. I mean, you're such a good friend, and I care about you a lot. I used to be so sure that you were my one and only...but then I started to really get to know the others, and...I just don't know where I stand anymore. Everything is still so new to me. I don't understand it all yet."
"Oh." Zhane thought about this a while. "Well, I'm not exactly a wise old man on a mountain, but maybe I can still give you some good advice. You know what your problem is?"
"What?"
"You think too much."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you're trying too hard to understand. Just relax a while. Just be. Things will sort themselves out."
"I didn't know you were a philosopher, Zhane," Karone said teasingly.
"What? Didn't you ever think there might be more to me than a handsome face?" Zhane replied. "But if you really want to find the answers, why don't you ask Zordon? He knows just about everything."
"I'll do that," said Karone. "Thanks, Zhane. Thanks a lot."
"You're welcome," Zhane replied. He got up to leave, but stopped as he reached the doorway. "By the way..."
"What?"
"No matter what...I still love you."
Karone managed a small smile. "I'll remember that."
Andros was very quiet at dinner. The others respected his wish to be left in peace, and did not speak to him or comment upon his silence. When the meal was over, he said that he was very tired, and wished to go to bed early. The others promised not to disturb him. Though he had been sleeping only a short time ago, he felt physically and emotionally exhausted, and he was asleep almost before his head touched his pillow.
He should have been listening more closely to his shadowy helper's words. Blackwind had promised only that the dreams would not bother Andros again...but that did not necessarily mean they would not come.
*...Once again, Andros dreamed he was on the battlefield in his impenetrable armor and carrying his gleaming sword. Everything was so real, so vivid! He could see, hear, and feel every detail. The euphoria of the previous night had returned also, stronger than ever. He was invincible, more powerful than a hundred normal warriors. He had never felt so completely alive.
Somewhere off in the distance, he could see the shadow that his dream self recognized as his friend Blackwind, who had given him the fantastic armor and weapon. Surrounding the shade were others: the Power Rangers, Karone, and Tommy. They were threatening him, trying to destroy him. Andros was enraged, and he flew across the distance to cut them all down. Finishing the final maneuver, he whirled around and found Zordon there behind him. He slashed his sword across the blue energy tube, and waves of light spread out from it and destroyed everything they touched - except for Blackwind and Andros himself. They stood on a tall hill, and the entire world spread out below them. Andros knew with the certainty that dreams give that he had won it all for himself, and he laughed.
"All this is but a vision of what could be," said Blackwind. "Would you choose it as your destiny?"...*
In his sleep, Andros mouthed a single word: "Yes!"
Slowly, he opened his eyes. They glowed a brilliant shade of blue, just like the crystal still hidden safely in his pocket.
Karone was late getting back to her room that night. She had taken Zhane's advice about talking to Zordon, and found it to be sound. The ancient wizard had been to many places and known many people of all walks of life, and he had learned much. Though somewhat shy of explaining such a personal dilemma with anyone, Karone had told him about her confusion, and he had helped her. Their conversation, taking many twists and turns down side roads, had been enlightening but long. To Zordon, trapped in his time warp, the past and present often blurred with the future, and he was not the best judge of time, so it was past midnight when Karone finally said goodnight and headed for her room.
As she was walking down the hall, she was surprised to hear a noise. Old habits left over from the days when unwariness could have spelled her demise at the hands of an assassin caused her to duck into the shadows and hide, heart pounding with conditioned fear. She was just chiding herself for being afraid of things that went bump in the night when she suddenly saw something very strange.
Andros was running down the hall - or at least, doing something very like running. He moved swiftly, almost silently, with his feet barely touching the ground. There was an easy smoothness to his gait that seemed unnatural. The expression on his face gave her chills, even more than the blue light emanating from his eyes. Karone waited until he was gone, then turned and moved as quietly as she could in the direction of her friends's rooms.
Moments later, T.J. was being shaken awake. He rolled over groggily and opened one eye.
"Karone? What are you doing here?" he asked. "It's the middle of the night!"
"Something's wrong with Andros," Karone replied. "I saw him leaving the ship."
"So what? Maybe he couldn't sleep or something," said T.J.
"There's more to it than that," Karone insisted. "There was something strange about him. I checked in his room; I could feel traces of evil magic there."
"You know magic?" asked T.J.
"I couldn't have survived this long without it. T.J., Something is really wrong. The Andros I know would never go anywhere without this."
Karone held up something for T.J. to see, a golden disk hung on a chain. It was a locket, Andros's most precious possession, and he never took it off, ever.
T.J. nodded. "Right. Better go wake up the others."
Very few people are ever at their best at one o'clock in the morning. Still, the Rangers, looking somewhat disheveled with uncombed hair and hastily put on clothing, managed to assemble in the bridge of the ship and get to work hunting for signs of their missing leader. Karone, who had not yet mastered the use of the ship's computers, anxiously stood by as her friends worked.
"Any luck?" she asked.
"I don't know. These readings are strange," said Cassie. "I keep picking him up, and then it's like he's just gone. I can't figure it out."
"Where was the last place you found him? I can use it as a starting place and work outwards," said Carlos.
Cassie gave him some coordinates, and Carlos punched them into the computer.
"That's funny..." he said. "There's something there, all right, but I can't tell what it is." He pushed a few more buttons, trying to get more detailed information. "It's not Andros, but it's a whole lot like Andros...or is it? It keeps changing."
"Karone, you said Andros might be under a spell," said T.J. "Could magic be used to change him like that?"
"That shouldn't happen. Even if magic changed him, he would still be himself...unless..."
"Unless what?" Zhane encouraged.
"Unless he's somehow taken on a parasite," Karone replied. "It's possible that some kind of magical entity has taken control of him, somehow. I've seen it happen. Somebody is living through him in some way...they are two in one."
"Let me see if I can check on that," said T.J. "If I can get the computer to separate what is Andros from what isn't....aha! Got it! Take a look at this."
One of the computer screens lit up. They could see Andros as the Red Ranger, standing on top of a building in downtown Angel Grove, firing his laser at everything that moved and laughing maniacally. A blue jewel seemed to be embedded in his helmet, and it glowed brightly with its own light.
"Where did that come from?" asked Cassie.
"I have no idea," T.J. replied, "but it can't be anything good."
"When I saw Andros tonight, his eyes were shining blue light," Karone remarked. "I'm willing to bet that if you could get rid of the crystal, you'll break the spell."
"It's worth a shot," said T.J. "Come on, guys, let's get moving."
As he turned to leave, Karone caught his arm.
"Let me come too," she said.
"No, Karone, it's too dangerous. In his state, he might try to destroy you, and you don't have any protection," he replied.
"He's my brother," said Karone sternly. "I am willing to do for him what he was willing to do for me. I understand that my life might be in danger. It's a risk I'm willing to take."
"That was different," said T.J. "There's a much bigger risk involved here. You don't have anywhere near the kind of defenses he did, and you don't have any weapons. If something happens to you, there isn't much chance of you being brought back again this time. You're staying here. Period."
Karone stared defiantly at him for a moment, then lowered her eyes.
"Well, all right," she said, "but I don't like it."
She stood and watched as her friends entered the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, she turned and headed for her room, looking thoughtful.
Blackwind had watched with great interest the metamorphosis his new acquisition had undergone. He had not realized the full extent of the crystal's power. He had known, of course, that the crystal could not be recharged properly if it was not tapped into its carrier by some deep desire or fear. What he had not known was the kind of psychological effect it would have on the one who was using it. The crystal Andros carried contained a large part of Blackwind's own soul, and it seemed that constant exposure to it was making Andros less and less like himself and more an extension of Blackwind. It was an interesting idea, one the Aeromancer had not considered before. He hypothesized that when the crystal was fully charged, the real Andros would cease to exist, leaving only a shell, a puppet under Blackwind's control. That possibility had several interesting implications that Blackwind found to be quite pleasing. Secure in the shadows of deepest night, he settled back to watch.
The Power Rangers arrived on the scene with an unmistakable burst of light that Andros saw clearly from his vantage point.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded harshly. "You're in my way! Get out of here!"
"Andros! It's us, your friends!" Ashley called. "Don't you remember us?"
"I don't need any friends," said Andros. "I don't need anyone! I am the greatest warrior in the universe! No one can stand against me!"
"Man," said T.J. "He's really messed up. How are we going to get the crystal away from him?"
"Get him to come down here," Zhane suggested. "The five of us ought to be able to handle him."
"I heard that!" said Andros. "You couldn't stop me if there were five hundred of you!"
"Oh yeah?" T.J. replied. "Then why don't you come down here and show us?"
"As you wish," Andros replied. With a flying leap from the top of the building, he landed in the midst of the other Rangers. He whirled around like a red tornado, slashing at everyone within reach with his Spiral Saber. The Rangers tried to get to their feet, only to be thrown down again by a rapid succession of shots from The Red Ranger's Astro-Blaster.
"Man!" T.J. exclaimed. "Whatever is controlling him is ruthless!"
"And I'm just warming up," said Andros. "Spiral Saber Booster Mode!"
Andros powered up his weapon and prepared to fire. Then, suddenly, something came whizzing out of nowhere and slashed across the Red Ranger's back. Sparks flew, and he screamed and dropped his saber. The other Rangers turned to see...Karone!
Karone reached out with practiced ease to catch her boomerang as it returned. She almost smiled. "I knew this thing would be useful someday," she remarked. "Hey, T.J! What was that you said about not having any weapons?"
T.J. grinned and shrugged. "Okay, so I was wrong!"
"Great timing, Karone!" Cassie shouted.
Andros was enraged, and the blue crystal burned like fire. "No one does that to me!"
Hidden in the shadows, Blackwind smiled exultantly. His crystal was almost completely energized. It would only take just a little more power...
"I've had it with all of you!" Andros shouted. "No more games! I'm going to obliterate all of you! Red Battlized Ranger Power, now!"
There was a brilliant burst of light as he began the transformation. The Rangers were frozen with alarm. They knew that they wouldn't stand a chance against the Red Ranger's ultimate form.
"Somebody stop him!" Karone shouted.
"Right," said Zhane. "Super Silverizer, blaster mode!" The Silver Ranger produced his weapon and fired a blast of energy into the heart of the glowing light. There was a tremendous explosion of armor parts and unused power...and a certain bright blue something that sailed through the air and out of sight. Andros, back in his human form, collapsed to the ground. The other Rangers rushed to his side.
"Is he hurt?" asked Karone worriedly.
"Hard to tell," T.J. replied. "Andros? Can you hear me? Say something."
Andros moaned faintly. "What happened? Where am I? What's going on?"
"It's all right. Everything's okay now," Ashley said soothingly. "Are you okay?"
"I...think so," he said. "Man, I feel like I've been hit by a bus...I didn't really get hit by a bus, did I?"
"No, you got hit by a boomerang," said Zhane. "Don't you remember what happened?"
"The last thing I remember, I was having that weird dream again, and I was talking to someone named Blackwind," said Andros. "I'm having trouble remembering things. My mind is all confused."
"Blackwind," Karone repeated. "Why does that name sound familliar?"
"Sleep on it," T.J. advised. "There are still a few hours left before daybreak. We might as well try to catch a few more Z's."
"Wait! What happened to the crystal?" asked Carlos. "I thought I saw it go flying off somewhere. Shouldn't we try to find it?"
"Crystal? What crystal?" asked Andros, suddenly tense.
"We don't know," Cassie replied. "Some kind of magical gem. We think it put a spell on you."
Andros looked puzzled. "I'm trying to remember...it seems like I got that crystal from Blackwind...but I thought he was just part of my dream...I can't think straight."
"Wait! This is starting to come back to me," said Karone. "Ecliptor told me a story about someone named Blackwind. He was an Aeromancer, a master of dreams and illusions."
"Could he have been sending Andros these nightmares?" asked T.J.
"That would be possible, I would think," said Karone. "The crystals are what reminded me of him. His life-force was supposedly split apart and captured in four crystals: the Heart Crystal, the Mind Crystal, the Blood Crystal -"
"- and the Soul Crystal," Andros finished. "He gave it to me to carry. He said it would get rid of my nightmares. How could I have been so stupid?"
"You had no way of knowing," said Carlos said. "Besides, he was using magic on you. You can't be blamed for that."
"Come on, everyone, let's get back to the ship," said T.J. "It's been a rough night for us all."
Everyone agreed. The seven exhausted teammates teleported back to the Megaship, looking forward to getting a few more hours of sleep.
Hidden in the darkness, Blackwind retrieved his crystal. He knew where to find it, just as he would have known where his hands and feet were, if he still had them. Soon, he promised himself, he would have them again. Now, all he had were the crystals. He picked up the blue Soul Crystal. It burned like frozen fire, shining with power that he pulled in and made part of himself. When the procedure was complete, he breathed a sigh of satisfaction. Already, he felt stronger, ready to take on his next challenge.
"These Power Rangers are truly marvelous beings," he said. The sound of his own voice, missing for centuries, was the most wonderful thing he had ever heard. "I shall have to see what other uses they can be put to..."
The next afternoon, T.J. arranged for a picnic lunch in the park. All of the Rangers attended, including Tommy, who wanted to hear all about the adventure of the previous night.
"Sounds like it must have been pretty exciting," he said. "I kinda wish I could have seen it."
"Well, next time there's a world-threatening emergency, maybe we'll invite you to come watch," said Zhane. The others laughed.
"Have you been having any more nightmares, Andros?" T.J. asked.
"No. I guess you were right all along. There was never anything wrong with me," Andros replied. "But I still can't believe I let Blackwind talk me into taking that crystal. I should have known better."
"Don't let it get you down," said Tommy. "Even the best of Rangers get hit by a spell sometimes. Ha, even Bulk and Skull have had spells on them!"
"Hey, Ashley," said Carlos, "remember those ugly jackets with the anger spell?"
"They weren't that ugly, were they?" Ashley asked.
"Yes!" her friends all replied.
"Rememeber the time you got turned into a vampire, Carlos?" asked Cassie.
"Yeah," Carlos replied. "Remember that stupid song you sang that nobody could get out of their heads?"
"Tanya told me once that Divatox turned her into a bug and tried to eat her," Ashley said.
"Yuck!" everyone exclaimed.
"I can top that one," said Tommy, joining the game. "Rita once shrunk a monster and hid it in my sandwich...and I swallowed it."
"Eeeeeeeew!" said everyone.
"That's really hitting below the belt," Zhane quipped.
His friends moaned. "What an awful pun," said Karone. "You don't even belong in this conversation. Nothing like this has ever happened to you."
"Not that you know of, anyway," said Zhane with a wink.
"I can tell you a strange story," said Tommy. "One time, my buddy Jason and I were under a rivalry spell, and we made a bet. He said if he won, I would have to give him my Power Coin and leave the team. I said that if I won, he would have to step down and make me leader of the team."
"Who won?" asked Cassie.
"We both did," said Tommy, "and we broke the spell. What's weird is, later on, I did have to give Jason the coin so Rita couldn't take its power, but then Zordon made me a new coin, and I came back to be the team leader."
"Wow," said Andros. "I guess if I'm going to be turned evil, at least I'll be in good company!"
Later, when the picnic was through and the others had all drifted off to play flag football or relax in the shade of the trees, Zhane and Karone took a walk together.
"You were pretty brave last night," said Zhane.
"You weren't so bad yourself," Karone replied.
"One thing I've got to ask: What in the world were you doing up so late?"
"I was talking to Zordon, like you told me to."
"And?"
Karone stared off into the clouds. "He said I should stop trying to figure everything out and just listen to my heart."
"And what does your heart have to say?"
"What I guess I should have known all along. I was just confused, and I'm sorry for hurting you, but now I know for sure," Karone smiled brilliantly at her friend. "I love you, Zhane. I always have."
Zhane laughed with relief. "Don't ever, ever worry me like that again!" The two hugged each other tightly.
"Hey, you lovebirds!" T.J. shouted. "Break it up! We're getting ready to go."
"Let's stay a little while longer," said Karone. "I don't think Andros is ready to leave yet."
Andros was dozing at the base of a tree. He was smiling in his sleep.
