Guardians of Time Chapter 11: Settling In, a power rangers fanfic

Title: Settling In

Author: Dana

Rating: PG

Warnings: none

Summary: Everything changed in one single moment and everyone's about to realize there are consequences to every action.

Disclaimer: I want my own Power Ranger! I have one of the toys but I don't own the ones on TV. Sad but true.

Author's notes: almost two years later I finally update. This fic was originally called Judgment Day but they did a lot more settling in then judging. So the next fic will be called Judgment Day. Oh yeah someone else comes back in this fic ;) can't say who.

They were all in shock at seeing Alexis standing there. She wasn't supposed to be there. She died. The only ones who didn't look surprised were the rest of the Ninjetti Guardians.

Roland ran over to Alexis with tears streaming down his face. "Alexis!"

She took a step backwards and looked at Chrisman expectantly. He just looked back at her sadly. She turned back to Roland and said, "Who?"

Roland stared at her in shock. "Come on Alexis. You know me. It's Roland."

"I know who you are. We've been helping you. I just don't know why you are calling me Alexis. My name is Mira."

Roland felt like he had been slapped in the face. The woman who he had loved, who had died in his arms, who he almost killed himself so he could be with her, was standing right in front of him and she didn't even know who he was.

Sora leaned down to check Tommy. He was unconscious but alive. She turned to Ashley. "How's Andros?"

"Unconscious."

Roland watched as the Ninjetti Guardians teleported away. He wiped away the tears that were falling. She didn't even know him. He had loved her so much and yet she didn't know him. Wait maybe it wasn't even her. Yeah that was it. It was just another form that the Guardians can change to. He had held her when she died. Then he remembered something Dallas said. Alexis' body had disappeared. Did she actually live?

"Roland?" Zhane called. He turned his attention to his leader. "Can you give us a hand with Tommy and Andros?" He asked pointing at the unconscious Rangers.

He helped them teleport them up to the Infirmary. Then spent the next hour stitching up Dallas, setting Leo's finger, and doing tests on Tommy and Andros. They both looked like they'd be out for awhile.

"Zhane!" Jason yelled from somewhere on the ship. "You have to come here." Zhane, Dallas, and Leo ran out of the room. When they got to where Jason was, they found three people they'd never seen before pointing guns at Jason.

"Who are you?" Zhane demanded.

"Galactic police." One of them said in a strained voice, as if English wasn't her first language. "Sorry for the guns." She said and they put them away.

"You all are summoned to be witnesses at the trial of Cameron Lefcourt, Christopher Mansfield, Zachary Taylor, and Alexis Verte."

"Who are Cameron Lefcourt, Christopher Mansfield, and Zachary Taylor?" Leo asked.

"The Ninjetti Guardians." Jason said as realization hit him.

"Why are they on trial?" Zhane demanded.

"They broke the biggest rule that we have. They changed history." The third one said.

"We called your father Princess." The second one said to Dallas.

"Jeez news sure travels fast." Dallas said. "I just found out."

"The trial starts tomorrow. You will be teleported to the location. Mr. Dante, Mr. Oliver, and Miss Verte are not going to be on trial for obvious reasons. We'll see you then." The second one said and they teleported away.

"So that really was Alexis." Roland said from the doorway. "I thought it was just a shape she turned into."

Dallas didn't say anything. She hadn't said much since they came back. She didn't even protest when Roland stitched up her head wound. The reply to one of the Galactic Police was the first thing she had said.

"Dal are you okay?" Zhane asked concern etched all over his face. He tried to touch her arm but she turned away. "Look if you are still mad about us sending you back I'm sorry."

"It's not that. Well it is partially but it's something else. I don't want to talk about it." She said and walked out of the room.

Zhane ran a hand through his hair. "I just don't know what's bothering her. I mean besides the obvious."

"Too much for her to handle I guess." Jason said.

When Dallas left the room, she went to her room. She pulled Alexis' diary out of a drawer. She had never once read it but now she wanted to know more then ever what had troubled Alexis. Why she was alive. Why she used to cry herself to sleep. It looked like she had been writing in it ever since her parents died. She read it from start to finish. They were mostly her thoughts on her parents deaths, moving in with the Meyerson's, and Jay being in college. Then came the entries about being a Ranger. That was when she found the entry she had been looking for.

Dear Diary,

Something happened today that I just couldn't explain. I was walking around on KO-35 and the next thing I know I'm in some house with a woman telling me I am pretty much immortal. How can I tell the others? They wouldn't understand! What would I say, 'Hey guys guess what? I died but I was brought back and given the right to decide when I want to die." Oh yeah that would work great. They'd probably throw me off the team. I will only tell you Diary.

"Um Dallas?" Sora asked from the doorway. Dallas put the diary away, wiped away the tears, and turned to face her sister. "Your mother's here." Dallas knew Sora meant Queen Felicia and not Denise Meyerson. "She wants to talk to you. She's in the eating area."

Dallas wiped away the rest of the tears and said, "Okay."

When she got to the eating area she just stood in the doorway staring at her birth mother. She was happy to see Jimanya wasn't there. Queen Felicia turned around and eyed her daughter. She had a kind smile on her face. "Hello Queen Felicia." Dallas said hoping she wouldn't be offended. She felt like it was wrong to call this woman mom. She barely knew her.

"You can call me Felicia. I do not expect you to call me mother." Dallas sighed with relief. "I come to ask you to come with me to Edenoi for a few days. Your father and I would like to get to know you better. Dex will be there. Don't worry Jimanya will not."

"But the trial..."

"Your father and I have talked to the Galactic Police. You will not testify. We hate to use our position but it was the Galactic Police who told us that."

Dallas thought about it. She did want to get off the ship for a while. Not that she'd ever admit it to Zhane. And she could get to know her birth parents and brother better. And it was a plus that she wouldn't have to see Jimanya. "Okay. I'll go pack."

As she walked into her room and started packing a few things, she thought of the journal that sat in the drawer. She grabbed it and turned around. It fell out of her hands. "Alexis."

"So I've been told. Zhane, I think it was Zhane, said this was my room. Look I don't want to be here and I'm sure this is all an inconvenience for all of you, but the Galactic Police said I had to stay here until the trial was all over."

"Well it's going to be your room for a few days. I'm going to Edenoi." This felt weird to Dallas. She had known Alexis since she was six but it wasn't Alexis. She seemed so detached from the situation. She picked up the diary that she had dropped. "This is yours. The top bunk is mine." She finished packing and left the room.

Alexis surveyed the room before unpacking. She held the koala bear close to her. She remembered earlier. The Galactic Police came onto the ship and arrested all of them. But she wasn't sent to jail, no she was told to pack some things because she had to stay on the Talorn until the trial was over. She knew the Defenders didn't want her there. They had basically told her that. Of course they called her Alexis. But then again when she was arrested they called her Alexis Rhea Verte. She just wanted to know what was going on. She hated not knowing. She hated being on a ship with people she didn't know. She opened the book that Dallas had given her and started reading it. She recognized nothing in it till the last entries. She recognized the names of Chrisman, Tierl, and Camie. Whoever had written this journal had led a sad life she surmised. She looked at the clock and realized she had been there for a few hours, and was quite hungry. But she didn't know where to find food. She started walking around the ship. She found herself in some kind of control room. There was a woman in a white smock in a tube in the middle of the room.

"HELLO ALEXIS. I'M DIMITRIA."

"First could everyone call me Mira? And second, hello."

"NO PROBLEM MIRA. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANTED?"

"Yes I was hungry and was looking for some food."

"YOU WERE HEADED IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION. JUST KEEP GOING UNTIL YOU FIND A ROOM AT THE END OF THE HALLWAY. THERE IS A COMPUTER THAT WILL MAKE ANYTHING YOU WANT."

"Thank you Dimitria." She left the room. When she got to the destined room. She found Roland and Andros there. They looked at her wearily. She'd been getting a lot of those looks. "I'm just getting something to eat then I'll leave." She said walking over and was about to key something into the computer. "We've got one of these at our base."

"Yeah but nothing beats Earth food." Andros said. "You remember Chinese food?" Andros asked. Roland just sat there picking at his food.

"Uh no. I have never eaten anywhere except our base. What number would I hit for that?" She asked. She had decided she should make the best of the situation. She wasn't sure how long she'd be staying on the ship.

"You like number 153." Roland said without even looking at her.

"Thanks uh Roland right?" She asked typing the number in. Soon she was pulling out a plate of rice. She sat down as far away from them as she could. She started eating. She had to admit it was really good. How did these people know her so well?

It was quiet the rest of the time.

When Dallas and Felicia landed on Edenoi the Royal Guards who bowed to them quickly greeted them. Dallas didn't think she could ever get used to that. She didn't like leading much less being bowed at.

"Follow me Dallas." Felicia said leading her down the hallway. "Originally you were named Antonia but I think Dallas is a lovely name. We never told them your original name. We didn't want people to start thinking you were Princess Antonia that supposedly died. We told them that you died so people didn't start wondering where you were." She stopped in front of two large doors. "Dallas we never wanted to give you up for adoption but we did it to keep you safe. At the time my brother-in-law was advancing on us and Jimanya was showing the Lightning Signature so we couldn't send her away. I never stopped thinking about the baby girl I handed to the Kerovian Government. Did your adopted parents treat you well?"

"Yes. They never treated me anything less then a daughter." Dallas said. She could almost not believe the story she was hearing. It was just a week ago that she thought she was just an ordinary Kerovian now she was the princess of Edenoi. It was quite a shock. When did her life get so complicated?

Felicia opened the door and motioned for her to enter. She found herself in the main room. She saw her father, Tork, and her Grandfather Lexion sitting there waiting for her it seemed. They rose and walked up to her and hugged her.

"So our little Antonia has returned." Lexion said with a smile.

"Who would have thought when you came here to help Jimanya that you really did belong here." Tork said with even a bigger smile. "Caran." He called. A servant woman came in and quickly bowed. "Please show Dallas to her room." He turned to his daughter. "I assumed you'd like to freshen up before dinner. Or take a nap."

"Uh sure." She said following Caran down the hall. She hoped someone would come get her later because she wasn't sure she could find her way back to the throne room.

"Here you are your majesty. Either I or another servant will show you the way to the dining room. If you have any questions let us know." She said curtsying then opened the door and walked away.

Dallas entered the room and gasped. She had never seen such a beautiful room before. It was huge! Bigger then all of the sleeping quarters on the Talorn put together. It had big windows, which were covered by curtains along one side of the room. Against another side was a large canopy bed. There were fresh flowers too. She opened one door and found a large bathroom and another door showed her a closet. It almost felt like one of the hotels she saw on TV. Maybe she could get used to this. She thought with a grin.

Zhane paced the Command Room. He didn't know what to do or think. His fiancé was on Edenoi getting to know her birth parents. One of his close friends who he had thought was dead was on the ship and had amnesia. His best friend and another friend were unconscious in the infirmary. Again. Another of his friends was an emotional mess and he didn't know how to help him. Also they had to testify in a couple of days. Some leader I am. If only he had been more concerned about what was bothering Dallas. He had sent her away without asking. It had to be Chrisman to tell him they needed to go back to help her. Maybe if he had done it differently, Tommy and Andros wouldn't be hurt, possibly dying.

What had happened during the fight? He wondered. One minute they were fighting and the next the area was filled with lightning. And yet there was something different. He couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was but it was different.

"ZHANE?" He looked up at Dimitria. "WHY DON'T YOU GO INTO THE RECROOM AND RELAX? YOU ARE A LITTLE HIGH STRUNG. YOU AREN'T GOING TO GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED UNTIL THE TRIAL IS OVER."

Zhane knew she had a point, so he walked out of the room. He walked into the recroom and saw Leo was reading a book that he had leant him. He felt bad about the fact that they would have to postpone helping him.

"ZHANE?" He looked up at Dimitria. "WHY DON'T YOU GO INTO THE RECROOM AND RELAX? YOU ARE A LITTLE HIGH STRUNG. YOU AREN'T GOING TO GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED UNTIL THE TRIAL IS OVER."

Leo looked up. "Sorry for what?" He asked putting the book down.

"Sorry for not being able to find your dimension. We can't do anything until the trial is over and I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it Zhane. It's not your fault. I'll get back eventually." Leo said and then added to himself at least I hope so. Would he be forever stuck in this dimension? It wasn't that he didn't like it; it just wasn't his own. He wanted to be with his friends and brother not with people who were still strangers to him.

Zhane nodded. They went back to what they had been doing without another word.

Dallas joined her family at the table for dinner. It wasn't the first time she had eaten with the royal family. After they rescued Jimanya from Count Dregen they had a large dinner. But this was different. This wasn't just the royal family of Edenoi. This was her family. And once again she was glad Jimanya wasn't there.

"Dallas I notice a ring on your ring finger. Are you married?" Her grandfather asked.

"Not yet. I'm engaged to Zhane. You met him. He's the Star Defender. We've only been engaged a couple of days." Dallas said quickly.

"He seems to be a very nice man. Hopefully you will bring him here before the wedding." Felicia said grinning at Tork. "We are invited to the wedding aren't we?"

"Of course!" Dallas said. "We don't know when the wedding will be except for the fact that it will be after we get Leo back to his correct dimension. Leo is a Galaxy Ranger from another dimension that was some how sent here. All we know is that he took a shot that was meant for his brother. We've been going to different dimensions hoping to find the correct one. Leo's a great guy."

"Dallas if you don't' mind me asking, but what happened between you and Jimanya?" Dex asked.

Dallas wasn't sure she wanted to tell them. How would they react to it? She wondered. They had to care about Jimanya more then they cared about her. After all they just found out she was their lost daughter. They'd of course take Jimanya's side. It would be wrong if they didn't. She took a deep breath.

"Alexis? That was the original Comet Defender that died right?" Dex asked.

"Yes. It turns out she wasn't dead after all. She's been posing as the Red Ninjetti Guardian Mira. Jimanya knew." She had to know. Dallas added silently.

"Dallas she didn't know." They all turned around to see Jorgan standing there. "I'm sorry your majesties but I couldn't help overhearing this conversation." He quickly said. "But Jimanya had no idea Alexis was Mira. She knew about the fact that she is practically immortal but she had no clue Mira and Alexis were the same person. The Lightning Council doesn't know everything."

"What about how she knew Leo had gone missing along with Zhane and Andros? Even I didn't know about Leo! Or how about the fact that she was responsible for Andros and Tommy switching bodies? She probably also knew what Andros and Tommy had to do."

Jorgan looked at the ground. "I wish Jimanya was here to explain things. This is what I know about the situation. As a member of the Lightning Council and Tommy and Andros' mentor, she was given top-secret information that she could not share with others. But she told me. She was informed what had to be done and what was going to happen in the fight that destroyed Telia and Timari. She cried after talking to you, how she wished she didn't have to lie to all of you. That was the hardest part for her. She told me she deserved getting punched by you."

Dallas saw that her family was now staring at her. Obviously they had not heard about her punching Jimanya. She didn't want to tell them and she sort of thought they already knew since they told her they knew about the situation. "I am sorry for punching Jimanya." She quickly said. "Things were just going way out of control." She said with a sigh. "I didn't know she was my sister at the time."

"I see." Lexion said. The incident wasn't brought up again the rest of the dinner. They talked about what would be expected of her and her coronation. She asked if her friends could be there and they agreed. She didn't think she could get used to being princess though. She hoped the others got through the trial.

True to the Galactic Police's word the Defenders and Leo were all teleported to a courtroom. The Astro Rangers were also there. Jason wasn't teleported because he was needed to keep an eye on Andros and Tommy. The Galactic Police had told them that ahead of time that one of them could remain on the ship to help with Andros and Tommy and this time it was Jason.

The Judge, who they was introduced to them, as Gallen did not look like a happy man. He was from a planet called Equinze. It was a far away planet. He had glared at them when they had entered the courtroom. Sora had said she was glad that a jury and not the judge decided this.

"Is there anyone going to represent them?" Gallan asked at the start looking at the three Guardians who were sitting by themselves at a table. "Didn't anyone volunteer?"

"I did." A voice said from the back of the courtroom. All heads turned to look at him. He was a tall man with light brown hair and blue eyes. He was carrying something in his hand that resembled a briefcase that could be found on Earth. An Alpha unit was following him.

"And you are?" Gallan asked.

"Zordon of Eltar."