Chapter 16: Dana's Choice

Dana woke up with a gasp. She dreamt about them fighting Mahesh and Rajani. Rajani had killed all of the children and all the rangers, but her. She was forced to watch them die a slow and painful death. Dana didn't want that to happen and she wasn't going to let that happen. She made sure Carter was asleep still and got out of bed. She walked over to the crib to see Destiny fast asleep. She touched her daughter's soft cheek with tears in her eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked over at the man she loved more than her own life. She quietly got dressed and walked over to the bed. She placed a kiss on his cheek and looked at her left hand. She removed her wedding ring and placed it on the nightstand with a letter. She covered Destiny up and headed towards the Rescue Rover.

As Dana got everything ready to go, she didn't realize she was being watched. "Going somewhere?" A familiar voice asked. She looked over to see Kimberly standing there.

"I'm going to save the children," she replied.

"By yourself?" Kimberly asked.

Dana stopped and looked at Kimberly. "Yes, by myself," she replied. Kimberly stood in front of her and Dana sighed sadly. "I have to do this, Kim. If anything happens to those children I won't be able to forgive myself," she insisted. Dana placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "If I don't come back, please take care of my family for me. Make sure that Destiny knows that I love her more than my life along with her father," she instructed.

"I can't just let you leave," Kimberly insisted.

"You have to. I can't let my friends get hurt trying to do something that I'm supposed to do. Promise me you'll watch my family."

"I promise."

Dana hugged Kimberly tight in tears. She got into the Rescue Rover and left after a final goodbye.

When everyone woke up, Tommy found his wife staring at the hole where the Rescue Rover sat. "Kimberly, where's the Rover?" He asked.

"Dana took it," she replied.

Carter woke up and found Dana's wedding ring and the note. He picked the note up and started to read it while holding her ring.

My Beloved Carter,

If you are reading this now, I am long gone by now. I have decided to fight Mahesh and Rajani on my own. I'm going to finish the work that Kalyani had left behind for me. I'm going to rescue the children on my own.

Before you decide to go after me, know this. I love you so much, Carter. I love Destiny just as much. I'd rather die than have something to either of you. You've already for the battles with Mahesh and Rajani that are meant to be mine. I can't let you do that anymore. I'm going to finish Kalyani's work.

Remember something though, Carter. I do love you. I have loved you since the day I met you. If anything were to happen to me while I am on this mission, I am having Kimberly taking care of you and Destiny. Please understand that I have to do this. This is my fight and I am going to finish it.

If I don't send word with any of the children once I free them, that'll mean I have failed to come back. I'll try all I can to come back, but I won't make any promises.

I love you Carter. Tell Destiny I love her so much.

All My Love,

Dana

Carter picked up the ring and placed it in his jacket pocket. He walked over to Destiny's crib to see her still fast asleep. He placed a kiss on the side of her head and left the room.

Captain Mitchell was about to send the rest of the rangers out after Dana when Carter came into the room. "She doesn't want help, sir," Carter informed.

"She needs the help," Captain Mitchell insisted.

"No, she doesn't need the help. This is her fight. She's going to finish it. She wrote to me telling me that she would rather die than have anything happen to Destiny or me. I know that she would rather die than have anything happen to any of us. We're her family and she doesn't want to see it destroyed. It would just shatter her if that happened. Don't send anyone out after her, she doesn't want it," Carter explained.

Dana stopped at where the last portal was and got out of the rover. "Okay, Mahesh, I'm here. Show yourself if you're not a coward," she snapped. Mahesh appeared with an evil grin.

"Well, look who decided to come," he laughed.

"Set those children free. I'm here now," she snapped.

"That's the only reason why you're here, is to set the children free?"

He circled her with a grin. "Where are your friends? I would expect them to be here," he commented.

"I came alone," she snapped.

Mahesh reached out and touched her hair. "Pity, I really wanted the Yellow Ranger, but you're much better," he chuckled. Dana just stood there and allowed him to lead her to the castle.

Dana was led to the children and they looked up. "Where's the girl?" Dana demanded.

"She's still in the throne room," he replied.

"Free her," Dana snapped.

Mahesh nodded to a soldier and the soldier went to get Alexa. Mahesh unlocked the door and the rest of the children stood up. Dana had her back turned and knew that she could only keep in contact with the other rangers for a minute.

Carter ran to Rescue Ops when word about Dana came. He stood there and Dana's face could be seen. "I'm in the castle. Mahesh is freeing the children now. Meet them where I left the Rescue Rover. Have all the parents wait there. I'll be out as soon as I can," she informed. She then cut the communication and Carter's heart went down to his stomach. He nodded to the parents and his friends before going to meet the children.

Dana waited for all of the children to be out before doing a sweep kick. She knocked Mahesh off his feet and she looked at the children. "GO!" She yelled. They ran and Dana watched as they ran to the portal. Dana looked at Mahesh and glared at him. "This is for all the parents you had suffer," she snapped.

"PHOENIX RANGER POWER!" She yelled.

She morphed and started to fight Mahesh. Rajani appeared and Dana was fighting them herself.

The children jumped through the portal and they found themselves in the streets. "JORDAN!" A familiar voice called. Jordan looked over to see Jason and Kat standing there.

"MOM, DAD!" He yelled.

He ran over and Kat took her son into her arms with grateful tears in her eyes. Jason knelt down and embraced both his wife and his son. Alex and Alexa saw their parents and ran to them. Ashley gladly took Alexa into her arms with tears falling down her face. Andros held his son close with a sigh and looked at his wife. Ashley smiled and then the whole family embraced. T. J. and Cassie took Callie into their arms with grateful smiles on their faces. T. J. nodded to Carter, but the Red Ranger was waiting for his wife to come out.

Dana was trying to fight them, but then Rajani grabbed Dana's arms and had Mahesh throw a few punches. Dana threw Rajani over her back and tried doing an axe kick only to have her roll out of the way. "Dana," a familiar voice called.

"Kalyani?" She asked.

"It is me, Dana. You have to strike their staffs with your blaster. That's the only way you can destroy them."

"What about me?"

"You have to run to the portal as fast as you possibly can."

Dana nodded and pulled out her blaster. "This is goodbye," she snapped. She blasted the staffs and took off running. Once Rajani and Mahesh were destroyed, the whole castle started coming down. Dana felt rocks and other rubble hitting her and tried to ignore it. The pain was too much, but she was going to make it through that portal. She saw the portal and jumped through.

Carter saw Dana coming out and ran to her. He held her in his arms and she de-morphed. She was pretty beaten up. There was something that was worse about it. Dana wasn't breathing.