1. Oh, guys, I am so, so, so sorry! This chapter was supposed to go up last week, but I totally forgot! I've never missed an upload weekend before! So here goes this chapter; and the next one will go up next week. This time, I won't be late. Sorry again, folks.

2.This chapter's lyrics aren't really lyrics. They're a poem, by Yehuda Amichai. Amichai is one of the most appreciated and popular poets in Israel, if not the most popular. Many of his poems speak of the futility and harm of war. He died about three years ago, around the age of 80, I don't rightly recall. The title of the poem quoted below refers to the vision of peace from the book of Isaiah.

Oh, and it's Monday morning in the story.

4. War Again

"Don't stop after beating the swords

Into ploughshares, don't stop! Go on beating

And make musical instruments out of them.

Whoever wants to make war again

Will have to turn them into ploughshares first."

"An Appendix To The Vision Of Peace", Yehuda Amichai, translated from Hebrew by Glenda Abramson and Tudor Parfitt

She was woken by a throbbing headache. Groaning, Ashley pushed herself to a sitting position.

"DECA, lights", she said to the pitch darkness around her.

DECA responded by turning on the lights on minimal power, only strong enough for Ashley to make out the outlines of the objects in her room. To her surprise, there was a thermal mug on her bedside cabinet.

"Ashley?" came a sleepy voice from the top bunk. "What are you doing awake?"

Looking up, Ashley saw Cassie pushing herself up on her elbow.

"Cassie?" asked Ashley, confused.

"No, I'm a chameleon monster" replied Cassie, irritated. "I took Cassie's form so you'd drink the poisoned hibiscus tea I made you"

Ashley looked at the mug, and then raised her eyes to Cassie again.

"I asked you to stay because I was afraid of the dark", she said.

"You did", confirmed Cassie. "And I made you some tea because you cried yourself to sleep, and I knew you'd have a headache when you wake up. I didn't expect you to wake at 2 a.m., and turn on the lights too, no less"

"You're grouching"

"What would you do in my place?"

"Grouch more" admitted Ashley, taking the mug.

"Drink your tea and go back to sleep. We have school tomorrow, remember?"

"No", said Ashley startled. "I forgot all about school"

"We can always say you caught the flu from Carlos", suggested Cassie. "It's been a few days, but it'd still be believable"

"I don't know" said Ashley, sipping her tea. "I'm dying to stay on the ship tomorrow, but I don't want to lie to my folks more than necessary"

"With all the lying we did, one more won't make a difference" observed Cassie, "But if there's even the slightest chance you'll go to school tomorrow, you'd better finish your tea quickly and go back to sleep"

"I should also turn off those light. I've got a flashlight somewhere", said Ashley suddenly. She opened and closed several drawers before finding the requested item and switching it on. "There you go. DECA, lights off please"

"Thanks", said Cassie, sinking back into her blanket.

"I think I still owe you a couple", replied Ashley. The silence informed her that Cassie fell back to sleep already.

"DECA, will you wake us up on time tomorrow?" whispered Ashley.

"Cassie has already requested a wake-up", replied DECA, whispering too.

"Great, thanks", said Ashley. Within the minute, she finished the tea – which indeed vanquished her headache – turned off the flashlight and fell to sleep herself, her sleep undisturbed by nightmares.

They had time to spare after dressing up and having breakfast and so, despite DECA's assurances that everyone are just fine, Carlos and Shiera went down to the infirmary to see for themselves. They found Zhane, Karone and Melissa still unconscious or sleeping, and Andros munching a sandwich and holding a cup of hot chocolate in his other hand.

"DECA, why didn't you tell us he's awake?" said Shiera promptly.

"Good morning to you too" answered Andros.

"You didn't ask if he was awake", pointed out DECA.

"DECA always covers up for Andros", said Carlos.

"I'll remember" said Shiera to her boyfriend, and turned again to Andros. "I'd deal with you later"

"I only woke up about ten minutes ago", said Andros defensively.

"How are you feeling?" asked Carlos.

"Okay, really. A little disoriented, but it's nothing serious"

"How about the others?" asked Shiera, "Have any of them woken yet?"

"DECA says Zhane only fell asleep at 3 a.m. or so, so he'll probably sleep most of the morning. Karone woke once, for a few seconds, and fell asleep immediately. I think she'll wake up properly around 10:00. As for Melissa…" Andros pulled his shoulders. "She hasn't slept for over a week"

"How would you know?" asked Carlos.

Andros was about to reply, but Karone stirred and turned on her side.

"Let's talk outside", suggested Andros quietly. He got up from the medical bed and he, Shiera and Carlos left the infirmary and went to the corridor, leaving the door open behind them so they could see if anyone wakes up.

"It's the Crystals", explained Andros, still speaking quietly. "I don't properly understand this, but they establish a certain link between the three of us. We can pick things from each other's minds without intending to. I just know certain things". He smiled briefly. "It can't be just the Crystals though, because I'm picking up Zhane, too, and I think I can sense Ashley as well"

"They shared your nightmares", commented Shiera. "Ashley and Zhane, that is"

"Zhane said it's because they both love you" completed Carlos. "Maybe that's it"

"Maybe", agreed Andros, "And maybe it's because they're Bearers of the Light, too"

"Bearers of the light?" asked Carlos.

"Pure Light is composed of several colors", explained Andros. "In the Netheriet tradition, founded by Oshra, there are six colors. There are only three crystals because in the Eltarian tradition there are only three colors"

"You, Karone, Melissa, Zhane and Ashley" counted Shiera. "Who's the sixth?"

Andros just shrugged.

"What's going to happen now?" asked Carlos.

"We'll follow Oshra's prophecy to its end, and destroy Dark Specter"

"Can we really do that?" asked Shiera skeptically. "He's enough to scare Karone, and she's pretty tough"

"Phoenix scared Dark Specter" pointed out Carlos.

"Now that the first triplet is complete, Melissa will be even stronger than she was before, and the same applies for Karone" commented Andros.

"What about you?" asked Carlos. "Aren't you going to develop any magical skills?"

"I probably can, but I won't. There's not enough time"

"How much time do we have?"

"I'm not sure, but if I'm picking up correctly from Karone and Melissa, we only have a few days"

"Karone?" asked Shiera. "How would she know anything of the prophecy, if you don't?"

"Her Crystal contains Zordon's memory. It's not fully accessible to her just yet, but it will be"

"Does that means you have Kaylan's memory?" asked Shiera.

Carlos gave her a look that said don't-you-forget-anything and mind-your-manners equally.

"Yes", admitted Andros, speaking more quietly than before. "Right now, it's almost nothing, but it'll grow stronger with time"

"A lifetime of evil", whispered Shiera.

Andros nodded quietly. Carlos put a hesitant hand on Andros's shoulder and to his surprise, Andros didn't recoil or brush his hand off.

"Karone and I have to be equal", said Andros in a measured voice. "I don't quite understand why it's so important. Our parents couldn't teach me, and so there's a lot I don't know"

"They taught Zhane" said Carlos.

"I won't pry in his mind when he's asleep". Andros glanced into the infirmary, and than at Carlos and Shiera. "Don't you guys have school today?"

"We do", said Shiera.

"And at least one of us can take a hint" added Carlos.

Shiera smiled sweetly.

"Where and when did you learn to smile like that?" demanded Carlos.

"Ashley" observed Andros.

Shiera's smile sweetened even more.

"We'll check on you guys later" promised Carlos and, muttering something incomprehensible under his breath, dragged a smirking Shiera away.

Practically the only thing Cassie liked about Mondays was that she had a free period right before lunch break, effectively doubling her break time. Normally, she dedicated the extra time to catching up with her sleep but that day, she teleported up to the Astro Megaship.

The default teleportation coordinates brought Cassie to the bridge.

"DECA?" she asked.

"Yes, Cassie?"

"Where are the guys?"

"Please be more specific"

"Andros, Zhane, Karone and Melissa"

"They are on board the "Nest" "

"The "Nest"?"

"Melissa's ship"

Cassie looked down at the controls.

"The sensor's don't pick any ship in our vicinity"

"Melissa's ship is cloaked. However, I am able to teleport you there if you wish"

"I'd like that, thanks"

As soon as she finished the sentence, the teleportation stream enveloped her and within the second, she found herself in a hall that must have been the Nest's conference room. It was the size of a ballroom, with its ceiling at least twice higher than normal and one of its longer walls completely transparent, turning the room into an observatory. On the other walls hung many maps, charts, crafted weapons and wall rugs. The rich decoration gave off all the glamour and confidence of an ancient, self-assured civilization. It inspired awe.

The four teens were at the far end of the massive table. Melissa and Karone were standing, debating hotly in a language Cassie didn't know. Andros and Zhane were sitting, openly bored. Everybody's attention was drawn by the sound of Cassie's incoming teleportation beam.

"Saved by the beam", said Zhane.

"It's not like you are tied to this chair", pointed out Karone. She got rid of her Astronema gear, and she was now wearing an armor that matched Melissa's, save that Karone's was sapphire and violet where Melissa's was gold and orange. She looked very beautiful, and her resemblance to her brother was quite remarkable.

"I don't want to miss out on the war plans, but you ladies are way over our heads", explained Zhane.

"War?" asked Cassie.

"I thought it was obvious", said Melissa, slightly surprised. "We're supposed to kill Dark Specter"

"I don't mean it to sound odd, but what's the rush? Can't you take a few days off?"

"Don't you think Dark Specter is aware of Oshra's prophecy?" asked Karone. "How long it will be before he realizes that I turned my back on Evil? Before he understands that Darkonda failed him, and Melissa lives? We're racing against the clock"

"Lucky for us, we have Dark Specter's prized strategist" mentioned Andros, a smile creeping across his lips. "He won't be too pleased when he finds out"

The mental image of the infuriated Dark Specter brought a smile to everyone's face, save Melissa's. Cassie supposed that Melissa forgot what humor meant.

"So you guys have been preparing for war all morning?" asked Cassie.

"Not really. Save Andros, we woke up late", said Melissa.

"9 to 11 a.m. isn't late", objected Zhane.

"There's not enough time" stressed out Karone.

"The rate you're going, we'll be good to go by tonight" said Andros.

"I hope not. We're aiming for late afternoon", said Melissa.

"What do you mean by "good to go"?" asked Cassie, brows furrowing.

"Good to go, literally" answered Karone simply. "We need to get our troops going"

"Where are we going to get troops from?"

"Every planet and species on the side of Good will answer to the call of the Yuria" said Melissa. "Ever since the time of Oshra, the Yuria of Netherie had the authority to summon the armies of Light when needed"

"We thought lunch time will be a good time to hold a preliminary debrief", said Andros. "It's not lunch break yet, is it?"

"It's not", calmed him Cassie. "I have a free term"

"You're welcome to join the discussion" invited Melissa.

"Redhead, I understand Eltarian and I don't get what you're talking about. Cassie doesn't stand a chance. I suggest you geniuses continue to plot strategies and tactics, while the rest of us see to the refreshments" said Zhane.

"Who are you and what did you do with Zhane?" demanded Cassie.

"He's like that at times" assured her Andros, "And I'd say he's actually got a point, only he and I will be as useless in the kitchen as we are here"

"It's not like there're any supplies left in the kitchen anyway", said Cassie.

"You can check on the kitchen here", suggested Melissa, "See if there's anything familiar to you"

"Thanks, but I think we'll order out today", said Cassie.

"Let's have the food talk somewhere else, and let Karone and Melissa work", suggested Andros, rising from his chair.

"No offence, but it's a very good idea, brother" said Karone.

"Of course it's a good idea, it's Andros's" said Zhane.

Karone blinked. "You and I need to talk", she told her boyfriend.

"Somewhen else" said Melissa firmly. "We have a war to get going"

This was Cassie's signal to act. She grabbed Andros and Zhane by their wrists and, saying "Have fun", teleported the three of them out.

Next time: "It reminds me of the day we became Rangers"