Disclaimer: Amber, Cora, and The Wizard are mine. Alexis belongs to Rachael West, this series does not affect her series "Streaks of Purple". All other Power Rangers material does not belong to me.

"One thing that has my mystified," Cora told Kimberly as the two girls made their way onto the bridge of the Megaship, "is if the Wizard is so powerful, why doesn't he just kill us himself?"

Kimberly shuddered, remembering as every ranger did when the Wizard had shown up and beaten all of them, including Amber. This led to the brief power drain they had suffered before Cherubae used the power of the Turnstone to bring their powers up to full strength. "I wish I could tell you. But you're right, I wonder what kind of game he is playing."

Cassie overheard their conversation and she looked over at them. "None of us are sure what the Wizard is up to, but considering we barely won that last fight, I hate to see what he has in store for us next."

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The Wizard watched from a screen the battle that his demon had fought. Alexis had used her Supreme bomb attack to win the fight for them. But just barely. Now she would be out of commission for a while, and The Wizard intended to take advantage of it.

"No more waiting around." The Wizard said aloud. A figure stepped from the shadows and stood just to the right of him. "It's time to start uniting those who were not killed by Zordon. And killing those who were not killed by Dark Specter. Find someone to distract those pesky rangers while I begin our first step."

Darkconda nodded. "An excellent plan. I have just the distraction."

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Jason and Amber walked into the infirmary, where Alpha was scanning Alexis one more time before letting her leave.

"How are you?" Amber asked her.

Alexis smiled. "I feel better. Not dancing in the streets better but at least I feel okay enough to get back to work." She responded. "But I guess that final decision is Alpha's."

"You're as healthy as can be expected. But you can't be doing your bomb attack for a while. In fact, if it can be avoided I don't think you should be on the battlefield in a while." Alpha told her.

"The way these things work out, I don't think we can do without her on the battle field. But we'll make sure she doesn't do her bomb attack." Jason told him.

Alpha nodded. "That's about as good as we're going to get, I guess. You're free to go." He said.

Alexis stood up and walked out of the infirmary with the other two. Then she smiled. "Thank god, if I had to spend much more time in there, I'd go crazy. In fact, I have been there enough to last a lifetime." She said.

Jason and Amber smiled back, and then Jason replied, "I have to agree with you, I've been there more times since the Wizard started his attack then I've ever been in a hospital prior to."

Amber nodded. "I second that. The only times I have ever been in health care place prior to the Wizard is when Kimberly fell of the balance beam from exhaustion, just before she went off to train for the Pan Global trials, and three months before being a ranger, when Amy and I got into a car accident." She said.

"You never told us about a car accident." Alexis said.

"And I never will." Amber said back, smiling a bit.

"The problem is, we'll probably be back there at least a dozen more times before we defeat this Wizard guy." Jason pointed out to them both.

"That's the depressing part." Alexis said. "Except for the prospect of the Wizard beating us."

"I just wish I knew what he was up to. Aside from major annoyance, he hasn't done a thing to prove he has some galaxy threatening agenda." Amber commented.

"Well, let's go to the bridge and see if there is anything new going on." Alexis said, and the three of them walked off.

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TJ remembered the probe The Wizard had sent out. Granted, it had been a decoy to lure the Space Rangers away from Earth so the Brain Drain monster could destroy the Essence Rangers, but none the less he wondered what would have happened with the probe if it had reached it's destination: M51 the galaxy belonging to Master Vile.

Ashley looked over at him and noticed the look of curiosity on his face. "Hey, you okay?" she asked.

TJ nodded. "Yeah, I was just thinking about that probe that was decoyed for us a couple of weeks ago. I wonder what would have happened if we had let it go instead of destroying it before we went to help the Essence Rangers." He told her.

"That's a good question. Probably nothing, but I guess it's hard to say. Maybe something we couldn't see, which may prove the hidden agenda thing that Kim and Cora were talking about." Ashley replied.

"I guess we'll never know." TJ admitted.

It was then that Jason and the two purple rangers walked onto the bridge. Everyone rose from their spots to find out how Alexis was doing.

"I'm good, although I guess we won't be using the Supreme Bomb Attack for a while." Alexis told them, and added, "That was Alpha's orders."

"We'll find a way to live without it." Andros assured her. It was then that the alarm went off.

"What's going on DECA?" Carlos asked.

"A monster has just appeared on the surface." DECA reported to the Power Rangers and then put the monster on the view screen.

The view screen showed a monster with small horns, one large eye, and a really big mouth surrounded by short arms and legs. The mouth seemed to be the main part of this monsters body.

"What is that thing?" Cora asked.

"That's Hotalis, he's a bounty hunter. He's an old friend of Darkconda's, originally banished to a planet called Mobius, an alien prison world." Karone told them.

"A friend of Darkconda, just great. And I was thinking we had actually killed him." Zhane commented.

"Any guesses on who gave him the get out of jail free card?" Kat asked rhetorically.

"Alpha, call Zack and tell him we need his help." Tommy ordered, and then the ranger ran down to off the bridge and on their way to the surface.

But Amber still overheard Kim ask where Zack was, and Rocky tell her he was on another date with Angela. She could imagine the hurt on her friends face.

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Zack sat across from Angela. The two of them had just ordered dinner and Zack was about to suggest a walk on the beach when his communicator and he looked down at it and smiled apologetically at Angela. "Sorry about this, I'll be back in a minute." He told her.

"Alright." Angela told him and then added, "Don't take too long."

Zack went outside and left into the alley before answering. "Alpha, this isn't the best time." He said.

"Sorry about that, but a mercenary friend of Darkconda's just showed up in the park. The other rangers went to confront him, but they'll probably need the help." He told the black ranger.

Figures. Zack thought, and hoped this wouldn't take too long. "I'm on my way." He told him and then looked around to make sure no one noticed him teleport to the park.

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The rangers had hoped to get a drop on Hatolis, but when as they were approaching from behind he suddenly turned around. "Greetings, Power Rangers." He growled, giving off a wicked smile.

"What big teeth you have." Cassie commented.

"What are you doing here? What do you want?" Andros asked the mercenary.

"I've come to take back the Gem of Trilix." He told the Rangers. "And it's come to my attention that you Rangers have it."

"The Gem of Trilix?" TJ asked as he looked around, his face showing his confusion. The looks of the other rangers mirrored his.

"Sorry, never heard of it." Amber told him. "But if you leave your name and number, we'll get back to you if we find it."

"So be it." Hatolis said and two blasters appeared in his hands from nowhere and he blasted at the group of teens. They all rolled out of the way.

"Okay, that didn't work." Kimberly noted.

"It's morphin' time!" "Let's Rocket!" Andros and Jason called out together.

"Orange Ranger Power!" "Purple Ranger Power"! "White Ranger Power!" "Green Ranger Power!" "Pink Ranger Power!" "Blue Ranger Power"! "Yellow Ranger Power"! "Red Ranger Power!"
All the Rangers (except Zack) stood fully morphed and ready for battle.

"I'm warning you, you're making a huge mistake. We don't have what you're looking for, we've never even heard of it." Ashley told the monster.

"I suppose I'll know for sure after I've defeated you and searched you and your ship." Hotalis responded.

"That's not going to happen." Jason told him and leapt forward to attack him. Hotalis shot the red essence ranger and he fell back.

"Jason, are you okay?" Kimberly asked him as she and Cora went to his side.

Jason stood up, using his sword to help him gain balance. "I'm alright guys."

Ashley looked over at Cassie. "If he wants to play that game, then let's respond in kind." She suggested. Cassie nodded in agreement and the two girls pulled out their blasters and fired at Hotalis, but he dodged it and shot back. The girls rolled out of the way.

"Standoff." Hotalis commented and then smiled. "Or it was." Then a ray shot out of his eye and sent the two girls flying into Andros and TJ.

"That just figures." Amber commented.

Karone took out her blaster and then transformed it into her crossbow. She then aimed it at Hotalis. "I think I know his weakness." She said and then shot a bolt directly at his eye.

Hotalis leaned up and caught the arrow in his mouth, then chomped into pieces before spitting them out. "Not even close girl, but even if it were, it'd take more than a measly arrow to do the trick." He replied.

Carlos went over and helped up the other Space Rangers. "We should try using our combined weapons." He suggested.

Andros nodded. "Let's do it." He confirmed.

Zhane turned his Silverizer into its blade mode and called out, "Go ahead, I'll keep him distracted." He then ran toward Hotalis.

Hotalis smiled. "Yeah, that's it." He commented sarcastically and then shot his eye beams at Zhane. He dodged the beam but then the monster raised the blaster and struck Zhane full in the chest.

By then Andros had formed his Spiral Saber into the booster mode and the other Space Rangers had turned their weapons into the Quadroblaster. They fired at Hotalis but he shot out his eyebeam and the impact caused both beams to disperse.

"This thing is smart." TJ commented as they lowered the Quadroblaster.

"Smarter than all of you." Hotalis replied and then raised his blasters and prepared to fire at the two ranger teams.

A blast came from the side and he dropped the lasers. They fell to the ground completely burned up. The rangers and Hotalis turned to see Zack running toward them, his axe turned back to make his cannon. "Let's make this quick, I have a date to get back too." Zack said to the monster.

"Sorry, but I have other plans." He replied as he ran toward Zack, intercepting him and then lifting him up. He tossed Zack into the other rangers.

"We have got to out smart him." Amber said, looking from Alexis to Amy to Cora and back again.

"I have an idea." Cora told her, then looked over to the other Essence Rangers. "I need a distraction, and I think the Power Cannon should do it."

Jason nodded. "Right." He looked to the others. "Alright guys, let's do it."

Jason and Rocky stood in the back, Kat and Kim stood in the middle, and Amy and Zack got up front and the Power Cannon formed on the top of their shoulders. "Let's take aim," Jason said. "And fire!"

Hotalis saw the blast coming and shot his eyebeam again at the cannon's blast, causing that to disperse. But this allowed Cora to cartwheel right past the beams, leap up and kick Hotalis onto the ground.

"Go Cora." Alexis commented.

"And she certainly learning gymnastics better on the job then she ever would from anyone else, even me." Kimberly added.

Hotalis rose just as Cora aimed another kick at his side, which connected. She then aimed a punch right at his eye, but this time the monster caught her and raised her off of the ground.

"It was a nice try girl, but futile. Now you will pay." Hotalis informed her, and then before any of the rangers could stop him, he shot a beam from his eye that struck Cora right in the chest. He released her as the beam struck and sent her flying into a tree, where she fell to the ground and she powered down unconscious.
"Cora!" Jason and Kimberly cried out as the Space and Essence Rangers ran to her side. Karone leaned down and put a hand to her wrist. "She's breathing, barely. We have to get her to the Megaship." She informed the group.

"We've tried everything, how are we going to stop him.or even stall him long enough to get her to the Megaship?" Kat asked.

"Not everything." Alexis reminded them grimly.

Andros turned to her. "You're not using your Supreme Bomb Attack. I won't risk losing you, any more than I would let anyone else risk themselves." He replied.

"You have a better idea?" Alexis asked.

Jason looked to Alexis. "Andros is right, we can't risk you. Get Cora to the ship. We'll take care of the monster." He told her.

"How?" Alexis asked him.

"I'm going to cut his eye out." Jason responded grimly.

"He already said his eye isn't his weakness." Karone pointed out to him.

"You'd be surprised what will die when you pull their eyes out, weakness or not." Rocky told her. That didn't do anything to reassure her.

Amber stood beside Jason. "Why don't I make sure he doesn't hurt anyone else while you prepare to make the final blow." She suggested.

"How?" Jason asked.

"Remember how you weakened Pullitcorn with the charged Dragon Dagger and your Power Sword?" Amber asked, and when Jason nodded she went on, "so if I can use my powers to weaken him enough for you to destroy him."

"She is the strongest ranger for a reason." Tommy pointed out as he handed Jason his Dragon Dagger. "Go for it man."

Jason nodded. "Let's do it."

"If you weaklings are done collaborating, I'd like to destroy you now." Hotalis said, and then laughed as if this were a game to him.

Amber took the forefront now. "Sorry, Hotalis. Times up. Rule's changed." She then raised her hand and launched lightning bolts at Hotalis. He looked as if he had never expected it, and so the bolts struck him and sent him flying.
Amber drew her Solar Sais and jumped right at the monster. This time he had no way of recovering in enough time and she struck him twice with her Sais and then launched out her Solar Flare attack, which sent him flying again.

Amber looked over at Jason. "Now." She said.

Jason ran forward, powering up the dagger and the sword, then swiped at Hotalis with his sword first, and then following through with Tommy's dagger. He and Amber turned away from the Hotalis as he fell back and exploded into nothing.

"Good going." Kimberly called out the two of them and then looked over at the rest of the rangers. "Let's get back to the Megaship."

"I'll catch you guys later. I left Angela hanging." Zack told the other rangers. "I'll finish up ASAP. If I don't get back before hand, give Cora my best wishes."

They all powered down and the ranger's teleported back to the Megaship while Zack transported to the restaurant.

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Darkconda had watched from the screen as the rangers finished off Hotalis. He was a little disappointed that his old friend had lost that battle, but supposed he wasn't surprised, given all they had done prior too.

"The Gem of Trilix is right there, Rangers. And you have no clue as to its existence. But you will.soon enough." He vowed.

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Zack ran over the table and sat down across from Angela again, who looked a little annoyed. "Sorry it took so long. Cora was injured and Kimberly had called me. The others were on their way, but she didn't want to be alone and she wanted me to talk to her until Tommy and Kat showed up." Zack explained, knowing he was lying a bit about the circumstances but knew that was unavoidable.

Angela's annoyance faded away, to be replaced by sorrow. "Oh, Zack. I'm so sorry. Maybe we should end this date." She replied.

Zack shook his head. "I said I'd take you to dinner and I won't back down from that. But afterwards I'll take you home and then go meet my friends." He replied.

Angela nodded. "Alright." She reluctantly agreed.

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Amber and Alexis joined Kimberly by the doors to the infirmary, where Alpha was working on Cora and Jason sat beside her bed holding her hand.

"Any word?" Amber asked her.

Kim shook her head. "Not yet. Alpha says she's stabilized and is slowly healing, although he says she is healing faster than he would have expected." She reported.

"Any idea how?" Alexis asked.

"No." Kim answered.

"How long as Jason been there?" Alexis asked now.

"Since he and I bought her in." Kimberly responded. "I couldn't stand still, so I came to pace out here. Jason refused to heave her side."

Amber smiled slightly. "That's because he loves her. And I know that feeling is mutual." She informed them.

Alexis looked over and asked, "Who died and made you the goddess of love?" There was a smile on her face, which told Amber she was only joking.

Amber shrugged. "I have my ways." She replied mysteriously.

Jason held her hand and looked at her face. Her face seemed so pale to him, and he was worried she would die despite Alpha's report. He looked over and saw Kim conversing with Amber and Alexis.

"She is healing Jason. It may not look like it, but she is. And faster than I would have expected considering the range and force she was hit with." Alpha assured him.

"I sure hope so." Jason said weakly, and then leaned back in his chair. He instinctively squeezed her hand.

So it surprised Jason when he felt Cora weakly squeeze his hand back. He sat up.

"What is it?" Kimberly asked, noticing his movement.

"I just squeezed her hand and she squeezed back. She is recovering." He told her and then looked down at Cora. Her face was still pale, but she had opened her eyes and even managed a weak smile. "Hey." Jason said quietly.

"Hey." She responded weakly. "Did we stop him?"

Jason smiled and nodded. "We stopped him. And you're going to be okay." He told her.

"You've healed remarkably well, you should be out of here in hours." Alpha added. "But the blast was severe. Any idea how you could heal so quickly?"

Cora shook her head a bit. "I've no idea. Luck I guess." She closed her eyes for a second and then whispered, "So tired."

Jason kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Rest now. We can theorize later." He told her, and then sat back down.

Kimberly smiled too. "She'll be all right. If we had lost her." She started.

"But we won't." Amber interjected. "She'll be fine, and better than ever. I'll go let the others know, they've got to be worried sick."

Alexis and Kim nodded, and the Purple Space Ranger ran off.

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Cassie looked over at Carlos. "Do you think she'll be all right?" she asked.

Carlos shook his head. "I don't know. But I hope so." He answered.

"This is all our fault. We underestimated him. That's all we've done his underestimate the Wizard and everything he's sent against us, despite the fact they've all nearly killed us." Ashley said, and then wrapped her arms around herself and started to cry quietly.

Andros went over and hugged Ashley. "It'll be all right." He whispered to her consolingly.

But she is right. Karone found herself thinking. All we've done is underestimate what he is capable of, and we should know better. Especially me, I was there when Dark Spectre declared him to dangerous to allow in our forces. I should be reminding them we can't underestimate anyone who Dark Spectre thought was dangerous.

It was then that Amber walked onto the bridge. The rangers all turned to her and Amber held up her hand. "It's alright, guys. She's recovering. She just woke up. Alpha says she should be on her feet in a few hours." She informed them all.

"Thank god." Cassie whispered. She noticed Ashley wipe tears from her eyes and then smile gratefully up at Andros, who smiled back.

It was then that DECA interrupted with, "Incoming distress call originating from Triforia."

To be continued.

What is going on Triforia? What forces with the Wizard be gathering? How will the rangers respond? What will Kim do about her feelings for Zack? Will Jason and Cora get together? Stay tuned.