After the Siege

by John Chubb

After the events in Nightfighters, Kincaid and his team seek to rebuild their lives. But there is still evil in the universe that makes building a new life easier said than done.

19. Hope for the Future

Disclaimer:The Power Rangers are the property ofSaban Entertainment and I lay no claim to them. The character of Mackenzie Dekalb is property of Karilee. The character of Cassandra Jensen(the Emerald Ranger) belongs to Helen. Sharon Lanrydan is property of David Knight and can be seen in his Demon Hunter chronicles stories. Jeffrey Kincaid, Lord Stygian, and all other characters relating to them are mine.

After the Siege Part 19 - Hope for the future
by John Chubb

Justin walked into the rink where Cassandra, Adam and Steven were waiting. Adam quickly gave Justin the low down on what was happening.

"So Vincent made off with Mackenzie.", Justin said stating the facts. "And he wants Kincaid there too?"

"Yeah, and there's no way anyone can reach him.", Cassandra stated. "We don't even know what he might want with him."

"But we know he wants him there. Unfortunately we don't know where he's at.", Adam said.

Steven was trying to take it all in still. His brother was a Power Ranger who was engaged to another Power Ranger who was kidnapped by his father who had turned into an intergalactic con man, and now he wanted his youngest son to face him for reasons no one knows. Adam looked in Steven's direction and asked if he was all right.

"Yeah.", Steven said. "It's just all so over my head the world my brother has stepped into." Cassandra gave a half smile and said, "You'll get used to it."

"You know this almost seems like Jeff. Disappears for hours at a time and he doesn't tell anyone where he's going or when he'll be back.", Steven said as if degrading him. Cassandra however didn't like Steven's tone.

"Look big man! And I do mean BIG man!", Cassandra looked down at Steven's stomach making notice of the big belly that he had. "If you've come all the way to chew out your brother then you'd better take your attitude outside. It does no damn good to anyone if they can't come up with something positive to say, or something to contribute to solving the crisis at hand. Do you understand me?"

Steven listened to Cassandra and took notice of the icy tone in her voice. Nodding he continued to listen as she continued to speak further. "Now, our good friend has been kidnapped, and she's carrying your brother's child. And your brother is also a good friend of ours. Now we're going to do something to rescue our friend, and if you have something to contribute to this great contribute it. But if you are just going to diss Kincaid then take your sour attitude outside and keep it there. Because I don't want to hear it or you, and I think I speak for everyone else here."

Adam and Justin all nodded and Steven quickly apologized. "I'm sorry for my remark. I won't try to justify it." Cassandra shook her head and said "Good."

"But that still don't have a clue on what to do. We don't know where Jeff is and we have no way of finding him.", Adam said.

Justin thought for a moment and had an idea. "I think I may know someone who can help. Is there a picture of Kincaid around?"

Adam nodded and ran up the stairs to Kincaid's and Mackenzie's bedroom and brought down the picture of Kincaid Mackenzie was holding. "What are you going to do with it?", Adam asked.

Justin said one word. "Blueprint."

Ivana and Sylvie sat in the stands watching the rodeo that was taking place below them. Only now were riders getting into riding the bucking broncos and the clowns were hiding in the barrels. Sylvie got into the rodeo pretty quickly while Ivana curled up her nose due to the smell.

"This place smells worse than the royal stable.", Ivana said dressed in customary pink t-shirt and jeans with black leather jacket. "You sure the Green Ranger is here?"

"Positive.", Sylvie said in a yellow t-shirt with cut offs. "The signature came from this location."

"You had better be right about this. I'm not sure I can handle this odor any further." Ivana looked back at the rodeo and watched as a rodeo clown was running from a bull chasing it and ducked into a barrel nearby. The bull then started headbutting the barrel and rolled it along the ground with the clown still inside.

"Well that seems almost amusing.", Ivana said as the audience laughed at the comic moment. Sylvie was chuckling too.

Marco Ramonos walked through the isle of the stable area where the horses and bulls were penned up. But since most of them were all out on the rodeo grounds he had the chance to do the job he was chosen to do, go into each of the stalls and shovel out the turds all the animals left behind.

It was a job Marco didn't want to do. He really didn't care much for horses or bulls but the rest of his family did. They all loved riding and petting them, but they didn't want any of the responsibility of taking care of them. Excuses they all gave were along the lines of 'too sick, bad leg, too tired, too old,' or anything like that while the best term Marco could think of to describe his family was 'too lazy'.

That was where Marco came in. Since he was young but old enough for the job, and vibrant with energy he was the one chosen to be put to work in taking care of the family animals. Even if he didn't want to do it himself.

Marco even told his family he didn't want the hassle of taking care of family animals, but his words apparently didn't matter since he was given the job anyway. Sure he was paid to do it, but for some reason the money seemed a cold comfort.

"Hey Marc!", the supervisor called out to him. He found it easier to call Marco 'Marc', even if Marco didn't like the nickname. "Yes sir?", Marco asked.

"We got a new load of shavings for the horse stalls. Can you run out and get a few bags?"

Marco sighed for a few minutes and said "Sure thing." Then he walked outside to where the truck with the shavings was waiting.

Marco made it outside to where the bags of shavings lay on the flatbed truck. He managed to grab two bags and pulled them off the flatbed. As he did the job Marco found himself complaining a mile a minute.

"These horses...grumble, grumble...When has all this become my problem?...grumble, grumble...And my name, what gives that jerk the right to change it?" Marco's complaints continued until he saw something catch his eye.

Outside the stable a green truck cab stood on the roadway. Marco immediately felt drawn to it as if the truck cab held all his dreams in it. Dreams that could come true.

Mackenzie lay on her bunk with her right wrist handcuffed to the bed post. Her morpher was still on the wrist which meant she could escape at any time, but for some odd reason Vincent decided not to remove it.

What's going on here, she mentally asked herself. Why let me keep my morpher? Does he even know that my powers have changed since we last heard from him? Mackenzie then decided that Vincent probably didn't which meant he may need something from her as the White Astro. But what, she thought.

Vincent later walked in as Mackenzie was contemplating her captivity. "So how are you doing?", he asked her almost gentlemanly.

Mackenzie let out a small laugh as if she couldn't believe Vincent would ask that. "Well let's see, I've been kidnapped, chained to a bed, and am being held for ransom in exchange for your youngest son. How do you think I'm doing?"

Vincent nodded as if understanding Mackenzie's plight. "I realize this is not the way I wanted things to happen, but I need to see my son. There are some things I need to discuss with him that are important."

"So why don't you ask him to come to you?", Mackenzie asked Vincent. Vincent rolled his eyes as if Mackenzie asked a stupid question.

"Do you really want me to answer that?", Vincent asked. Mackenzie nodded knowing that Vincent meant when he sold Kincaid out to the Luciferian Empire. "I needed to see Jeff, and I needed a way where he couldn't take 'no' for an answer."

"Well kidnapping me is one way to do it.", Mackenzie said nonchalantly. "But what if he doesn't show up? Have you figured that one out?"

Vincent didn't answer. Rather he went into an intense coughing fit that sent him down to his hands and knees as he coughed up a lot of blood and phlegm. Vincent went into his jacket pocket and pulled out a bottle of something that Mackenzie thought may have been some kind of medicine and he swallowed a good portion of it as he poured it into a plastic cup that came with the bottle. The coughing fit soon stopped after that.

Mackenzie noticed Vincent's coughing fit and the small plastic cup of medicine he was taking. "What is that?", she asked her captor and boyfriend's father.

"Nothing.", Vincent said. Mackenzie continued to look on skeptically.

"That's one hell of a nothing.", Mackenzie said. Vincent said nothing and left his future daughter in law in her small dank room.

Mackenzie looked down at her wrist bound by the handcuffs Vincent put on her. Does he know I can escape these anytime I want, the White Astro thought. And why is he so sick all of a sudden?

Mackenzie decided that she would wait. She wanted to know what Vincent's game plan was first.

"Are you nuts?", Steven asked Justin. "There's no way dad's going to go for this."

"Hey take it easy. A body double works just as well as the real thing.", Justin said trying to be reassuring. "No way will he know the difference.

"You don't know dad.", Steven said. "He'll see it coming."

Cassandra, having enough if Steven's attitude went and got into the elder brother's face. "Look. I'm sorry if this idea, or this android don't meet your lofty expectations. But we don't have many options. Now if you can't say anything constructive then don't say a damn thing!"

Steven immediately shut up and then turned to Justin. He asked the young genius, "So where did you get this thing?"

"Auction.", Justin said. "A protection group was going out of business and they had to auction off their hardware. They sold this thing at a steal, and I went and grabbed it."

Adam was very worried now. "Uh Justin, how much are we talking about when you mention 'a steal'?"

"Okay, I'll admit I needed to do some refurbishment on it.", Justin said. "But I've completely redone it so that it works like it was brand new."

"What about the face?", Cassandra asked. "How will you make it look like Kincaid?"

"I'm glad you asked that.", Justin answered as he took a picture of Kincaid and Mackenzie and made sure the optical sensors were focused on Kincaid's face. The optic emitted a red scanning light taking in all aspects of his face, and when it was done an image of it seemed to form on the face of the Body Double.

It looked so much like Kincaid in every detail. Even the stony faced expression. Steven looked the Body Double android over and said "This is never going to work."

"Why do you say that?", Adam asked.

"He's too stiff!", was Steven's answer. "And his face seems like it was frozen in that position."

"Actually that's Jeff on a good day.", Cassandra answered partly in jest, but she knew how Kincaid's stoic expressions were like. "He'll fall for it."

Steven sighed as he joined Adam, Justin and Cassandra in escorting the 'Kincaid' android out of the rink and proceeded to meet Vincent.

On the main road going into Port Clinton where the drawbridge stood a flash of light appeared in the middle of the road. After that two motorcycles rolled around the corner. One of the riders was taking in the sights.

"So this is your hometown huh?", the girl with brown and blonde hair said. "Nice little place."

"Don't get too attached to it.", the other rider said. "This is only a pit stop. We drop of this little bundle of joy and we're gone again."

The bundle of joy the other rider was referring to was an infant whose head stuck out of a carry-on bag fastened to his stomach. The infant was held securely to the rider's front so it wouldn't decide to climb out. The rider kept one eye on the road and one eye on the infant nonetheless. He had grown attached to the little bundle of joy, which was why he was making this pit stop.

"Yeah, if things are going to get hairy it's better off if the kid's out of the line of fire.", the girl rider said. "So what's this place called again?"

The other rider smiled as he told their destination. "Leroy's shootfighting rink."

Marco looked all around the truck cab just awestruck by the vehicle in front of him. It seemed like it had only been washed, waxed and crafted just yesterday. "Oh wow man." Marco said as he placed his hands all over the side trying to get a 'feel' for the machine.

"Beautiful machine isn't it?" a voice said behind him. Marco turned around like a shot and saw two girls standing before him. One was a brown haired girl in pink. The other was a slightly darker haired girl in yellow.

"Who are you?" Marco asked.

"Do not worry." the girl in pink said. "My name is Ivana, and this is Sylvie." Sylvie waved a slight hello as Marco nodded.

"What do you want?" Marco then asked.

"I think the question is..." Sylvie said. "What does Pay Loader want with you?"

"Pay Loader?" Marco asked. "Is that what this vehicle is called?"

"Yep." Sylvie said. "It's a Turbo vehicle." Marco seemed confused by the term. "Turbo Vehicle?"

"What my teammate means." Ivana said interrupting. "Is that this is the Green Turbo Ranger vehicle for the Power Rangers Turbo. It can only go to the one chosen to be the Green Turbo Ranger. And apparently you have been chosen to fill that role."

Marco was speechless and Sylvie then said "You'll have to excuse my friend here. She doesn't like the stink of the barn and wants to leave as soon as she can. But in a nutshell she's pretty much said it all."

Marco was still trying to wrap his mind around the concept presented to him. "Me a Power Ranger?" was all he could say.

"I know. Overwhelming isn't it?" Sylvie said with humor. Marco however was still trying to wrap his mind around the concept of being a Power Ranger.

"But why me?" Marco asked. "I mean, I'm no one special."

"Pay Loader says different." Ivana said. "Just as Off Roader and Turbo Striker told us different when we came across them. You are a fighter are you not?"

"Yeah, I've taken a little bit of boxing." Marco answered.

"And you are a very caring soul." Sylvie added. "You're not afraid to put your own life on the line for others." Marco nodded there. At times he had been known to put his own needs aside for the good of others.

"And I sense a strong spirit within you." Ivana said. "It's waiting to burst free. So why should it not be you?"

Marco still couldn't believe it. "I just...I just..."

"Don't believe it?" Sylvie asked. "You think that someone else should be Green Turbo?" Marco nodded 'yes' believing someone else SHOULD be Green Turbo.

"Well let's see what the Green Turbo vehicle has to say." Sylvie motioned over to the truck as if telling Marco to go in. Marco reached up to the door handle and lifted up. The door opened leaving Marco stunned, then he got into the truck.

Sitting behind the wheel Marco was getting a feel for the vehicle he was in. At the same time Marco felt like the truck was made for him, and that someone else should be driving it. Then he instinctively reached over to the glove compartment and opened it revealing the Green Turbo morpher and key that went with it.

Taking both of them out Marco ran his fingers along the morpher. It's smooth and styled construction was leaving him awestruck. Then he felt words echo into his mind and as if on instinct he said the words that would open a whole new world for him.

"SHIFT INTO TURBO! PAY LOADER TURBO POWER!"

Where Marco Ramonos had stood was now the Green Turbo Ranger. He looked over his costume and felt the power within him and was awestruck by the sensations running through him.

"Well, I guess Pay Loader thinks you're the right guy for the job." Ivana smirked. "Now can we get out of here? The smell is really getting to me."

Green Turbo demorphed and stood with an amazed look on his face. Then a voice shook him out of his reverie. "Hey Marc! Where are those shavings? And don't you still have turds to clean out of some stalls?"

Marco rolled his eyes and looked at Sylvie and Ivana. "Want to give me a hand so we can split early?" he asked the two girls. Sylvie and Ivana followed their new teammate into the stables to help him finish his chores. Both of them had pained looks on their faces over what was to come. Especially Ivana.

The two motorcycle riders had pulled into the parking lot of Leroy's shootfighting rink and quickly disembarked from their rides. One of them holding the bundle of joy close to him.

"Think they'll be in?" the female rider asked.

"Most likely." the one with the baby said. "If nothing else Boiling Hot will be in. He always shows up no matter how many times he's been fired."

The woman couldn't help but chuckle at what was just said. "Fired?"

"Yeah. I don't know why but the term is never really taken seriously. Boiling Hot always comes back and no one bothers to remind him that he's fired so...he just stays around and helps out."

"Do you think he'll ever get fired for real?" the woman then asked. The man just shrugged his shoulders and led the way up the steps. The woman matching his step and the baby held securely in the man's arms. When they came to the main desk Boiling Hot was hard at work trying to get fighters down to the GSA armory to put on a show that was billed as a one night only.

"No Karl the Krusher is booked for Cincinatti that night. I can provide you with..."

"Hello Boiling Hot." the man said causing Boiling Hot to turn to see who was calling for him. His mouth dropped open as he saw who the man was.

"Oh...my...god..." was all he said. Then he told the booker that he would call him back.

"You sure they will be coming this way?" the blonde haired biker chick asked her Japanese friend.

"Oh yeah. They gotta come this way. There's no other way for them to go." he said. A dark haired young man looked through binoculars to spot their quarry.

"It is a good thing we had tapped into Vincent's transmission while we have been preparing for our move." the dark haired one said. "Here we shall succeed where Harper failed, and we shall get our revenge."

"Speaking of Harper. What happened to him anyway?" the Japanese girl asked.

"Like we care?" the punk girl said. "Harper couldn't get the job done when he went after Kincaid. We don't need him."

"It is a pity that Armondo died at the final battle though." the dark haired one said. He was one whose life force was taken to empower Crucible. At the end of the siege only four of the so called Ranger Guard survived. And while Harper set off on his own to bring down Kincaid the other three also struck out on their own but stayed together, and sought to attack the Nightfighters when the time was right.

That time was now, as a boat came down across Lake Erie. Five people in it, all of them known to those watching.

"Let's go have some fun." Michelle Caris, formerly of the Ranger Guard said. Her friends Thandros and Mishi Fujikawa took their seats ready to ambush the incoming Nightfighters.

Justin was at the wheel of Kincaid's boat when Cassandra, Adam and Steven held the Kincaid replica in place. "You sure we're going the right way Justin?" Adam asked.

"There aren't many GSA piers to dock at here Adam. At least none closer than this." Justin retorted. "Vincent will be there."

Towards the back of the boat Steven and Cassandra were holding the Kincaid replica in place. "Are all your Ranger missions like this?" Steven asked.

"No. This is actually one of the more boring ones." Cassandra answered. She then turned her gaze towards a boat that was coming in fast towards them, gaining speed as it moved.

"Justin. We've got another boat coming in towards us. Do you think it could be from Vincent?" Steven asked.

Cassandra however stared at the boat long enough to get a telepathic imprint on the drivers of the incoming boat. She sensed maliciousness, evil...and familiarity. When they got closer their intention was clear to her. "JUSTIN TURN!" she shouted.

Justin did as he was told and turned the boat to the left just as laser fire streaked from the attacker due to a rifle that one of the drivers had. A driver Cassandra recognized as Michelle Caris.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Cassandra asked. Adam looked in her direction and made out Mishi Fujikawa on the boat as well. "And Thandros makes three." he later added.

"Who are those guys?" Steven asked.

"You remember Robert Harper don't you?" Justin said.

"Vaguely." Steven answered. Justin then explained. "Well these guys were Harper's running buddies during the Luciferian Siege. When Kincaid beat them, Harper didn't take it very well. We've seen Harper around from time to time, but we weren't sure what happened to the rest of the Ranger Guard."

"I guess we know for sure now. Hang on I'm going to try to lose them." Justin then banked the boat right as another volley streaked past when the three former Ranger Guardsmen crossed the boat again.

"Doesn't this boat have any weapons?" Steven asked. Cassandra was way ahead of Steven and brought a laser rifle from under the seat. "Think you can handle that?" she asked.

Steven pointed the rifle and fired, hitting the target which was the boat's windshield. However Thandros ducked and only the glass was shattered. All three Guardsmen had only minor lacerations.

"Justin, we may need some help. Can you call in the other Turbo Rangers?" Adam asked. Justin then pushed a button on his communicator, which let out a series of beeps. "Built in distress signal. All one has to do is trace the signal and home in on it. That way I don't have to divide my attention between talking and losing these losers."

"Speaking of losers. Here they come again." Steven said as he took aim at the speedboat that was coming their way. It looked like it was barreling down at them at high speed, almost as if on a collision course.

"What the hell are they doing?" Adam asked as Cassandra struggled to get a good look. She even used her telepathy to see what they had in mind, it wasn't pretty. Especially since they had already brought out a rocket launcher and aimed it at the boat.

"BAIL!" she ordered as the rocket shot out of its launcher and came barreling at the Nightfighters. Steven, Adam and Justin all did what Cassandra told and all four bailed into the water. The Kincaid replica fell back as per Justin's orders, and then the rocket hit the boat sending the engine into flames. The boat was still fairly much intact, but the engine was clearly blown as debris surrounded the wrecked boat.

Cassandra was the first to bob to the surface just in time to face the barrel of a blaster rifle with Mishi holding her finger on the trigger.

"Hello girlfriend. It's party time." And as everyone else came to the surface they were brought on board as well. Even the Kincaid replicant.

At the stables Marco, Ivana and Sylvie all walked out after finishing their jobs. All three were exhausted, thirsty and smelly.

"Oh god. I'll be in the shower for a month!" Sylvie said.

Ivana added to the complaints with "Now I know why I wasn't allowed to go into the royal stables at cleaning time. I can't believe a horse would deposit that much waste."

"One of the many things to hate about a job like this." Marco said. "I've got water in the truck. I'll go get some." Marco got up, but just then the communicators activated, picking up Justin's signal.

"We've got a Ranger distress code. It's Blue Turbo!" Sylvie said.

"Isn't that the first Turbo Ranger? Justin 'something'?" Ivana asked.

"Stewart." Sylvie corrected as she got a lock on the signal. "Looks like it's coming from Port Clinton. Which is where the Nightfighters hang out."

"Let's go!" Marco said. "I'll take a rescue over cleaning a barn any day."

"Agreed!" Ivana said eager to leave the stables. Soon, after morphing, Ivana, Sylvie and Marco all got into their Turbo Vehicles and made their way to where Justin was.

Somewhere in Angel Grove, an old zord picked up the distress call as well. Upon recognition of its former operator the central computer made ready to activate its systems so it could go and help.

All systems checked out. Weapons, computer, engines, the whole bit. The zord computer then activated startup routines and powered up its long dormant systems.

After everything else was fully charged Roadbuster's diesel engine roared to life. When it was powered up it then left its holding area in Angel Grove and made its way to where it's driver's call was being sent-Port Clinton.

At Leroy's Boiling Hot looked at the two before him. "Kincaid when did you get back?" he asked one.

"Just now." Jeffrey Kincaid said(the real one). "Where is everyone?"

"They're out for right now." Boiling Hot turned to the woman holding the baby. "And who's this?"

Kincaid smiled slightly but the woman spoke her own mind. "Sharon Lanrydan." she said offering her hand which Boiling Hot took. "I met up with Kincaid on one of the team's interdimensional travels."

Boiling Hot looked vacant in the eyes like one who was hypnotized by beauty. Sharon noticed this and then added "You're not going to start drooling anytime soon are you?"

Boiling Hot quickly shook himself out of his zombified trance and looked at the baby girl in Kincaid's arms. "Oh sorry." he said wiping his chin. "Who's the kid by the way?"

"Oh well." Kincaid found himself stumbling across his own words. Boiling Hot looked intrigued that big, bad Jeff Kincaid was tongue tied. "Yeah...the baby...well..." Kincaid then dropped the bombshell. "She's my daughter."

This caused Boiling Hot's eyes to shoot straight out of his sockets. "Your...daughter?"

"From another reality." Sharon added. "Don't worry, I'm not the mommy."

Boiling Hot was struggling to wrap his head around things. Kincaid having a kid, travelling with a strange woman. "But...but...What would Mackenzie say?"

"Well she's Mackenzie's daughter too in a way." Kincaid explained. He went into the explanation of entering the universe where the Matrix of Synergy was located, the meeting of Sharon, also known as the Demon Hunter-who Kincaid explained was the daughter of Ashley and Andros, contact with a shadow group called Specter Squad with whom an alternate version of himself was leader, and then how Kincaid's team not only had to get the Matrix, but also the alternate version of Mackenzie and Kincaid's child away from his foe's grasp. Boiling Hot looked so stunned Sharon thought she saw drool run down his mouth again.

"I think he's speechless." Sharon said until she fell to the ground and held her head as she let out a howl of pain. "Sharon!" Kincaid said rushing to her side.

"Sorry about that. Forsight is one of my LEAST enjoyable Soul Power benefits!" Sharon moaned as she saw images flashing before her eyes. The Soul Pendent that she wore around her neck was also glowing pure white at the moment. Boiling Hot also looked on wondering what was happening to Sharon until finally the glow of the pendant dimmed, and Sharon started to get up with Kincaid helping her up after he passed the baby on to Boiling Hot.

"What was that?" Kincaid asked.

"You've already explained to me a bit about your Night Powers and I've told you about a lot of the similarities between that and the Soul Powers." Sharon said steadying herself. "Well like how Spirits of the Night could come to help others or be with those that could hear them, the Souls of Light sometimes like to give me visions of things that are currently or are about to be set in motion. It's helped save some of my friends back in my home dimension..." she then rubbed her head. "Just wish I didn't have the frelling migranes as part of the deal."

"And what did they show you?" Kincaid asked.

Sharon said it straight out. "Kincaid...someone's got your fiancee' hostage."

That just set Kincaid into a cold mode. "GSA logo, a pier with the logo, your fiancee', and some guy that looks kinda like you only big with three other people and you looking very stiff. You know any GSA bases in the area?"

Kincaid just raced out the door, got on his bike and took off.

"I'll take that as a yes." Sharon said as she turned to Boiling Hot who still held the baby. "Take care of her will you?" She said before getting on her ride and following Kincaid.

Boiling Hot watched the two motorcyclists leave, and then suddenly realized that he had a baby with him who needed her diaper changed. "Uhhh guys? Guys? Help me out here? GUYS!"

At his cottage on the base Vincent looked at his watch with concern. Why aren't they here yet? he asked himself. Have they found Jeff yet? he mentally asked himself. Sitting off to a corner Mackenzie sat catching Vincent's mannerisms. The look on his face was evident.

"Problem?" Mackenzie asked. Vincent didn't answer as he paced the floor looking on at his watch. "I'll take that as a 'yes'" She then said sarcastically.

"What's taking them so long?" Vincent cursed under clenched teeth. "I told them to escort Jeff to me when they saw him. I paid them good money."

Mackenzie looked on with curiosity. "Who?"

"Just some people I hired." Vincent said. "They were down and out, and I decided to show them some charity by giving them a job."

Mackenzie looked at Vincent with a look of disbelief and someone ready to laugh. "You? Showing charity?" she said.

"Yes. Stop the presses people Vincent Kincaid is courteous for the first time in years." Vincent's sarcasm amused Mackenzie but her curiosity was still peaked. "Who all did you hire?" she asked.

"Two humans and a Kerovan. I think their names were Thandros, Michelle and..."

"Mishi?" Mackenzie said finishing the sentence. "Don't tell me you hired members of the Ranger Guard!"

"The Ranger Guard?" Vincent asked confused. "Who are they?"

Mackenzie couldn't believe her ears. Doesn't this guy know anything? she thought. "They're only the Luciferian Empire's first attempt at creating evil Rangers. A plan that almost succeeded mind you." Mackenzie then went on to tell the tale of when Kincaid and the Nightfighters went to Lucifer 6 on a mission and they were captured and tortured. They had confronted a group of Rangers using twisted Astro Powers who put them through the paces until they broke free and helped defeat them. An action that led to half of the planet being destroyed due to Kincaid's uncontrolled release of the Night Powers.

"These guys were really beat down." Mackenzie said. "They are not going to take that lightly."

"But I paid them to deliver my son to me." Vincent said.

"Ever hear of the expression 'Take the money and run'?" Mackenzie retorted. "The last time we ran into the Ranger Guard we left them with egg on their faces. Hell Harper never really got over the humiliation of getting beat by Jeff."

Suddenly the full effect of what Vincent had done hit him. He may have well doomed his own son to enemies of his. "Oh my God. What have I done?"

"Worry about that later. Right now my friends need help." Mackenzie lifted her wrist to where the chains were that bound her wrist.

"Hold on. I'll get the key." Vincent said scrambling to find it.

"Don't bother." Mackenzie said as she made her hands glow brighter. The next second, the chains broke apart and clattered to the ground. Vincent looked at Mackenzie wide eyed. "How...how did you..."

"Trade secret. Now let's go!" Mackenzie was practically dragging Vincent out of the cottage hoping to find where Steven and the Nightfighters were being kept.

At a boathouse near the main base the three former guardsmen were escorting their hostages out of their boat and onto the dock.

"All right move it!" Michelle said getting rough with their prisoners. Cassandra especially as Michelle beat her down with the butt of her weapon.

"Hey, you want to try that with me?" Adam shouted, who got his answer though due to a blow to his neck with a ball bat from Thandros.

"You'll speak when you are spoken to." Thandros said. "Now move it!"

Thandros, Mishi and Michelle all moved their hostages along and noticed the Kincaid replica just sitting on the boat. "Why isn't he moving?" Michelle asked.

"I don't know. I'm not picking up any thoughts from him." Thandros said trying to do a mind scan and came up blank. Mishi decided to go out to the boat and see what was up with 'Kincaid'.

She studied the rigid feature on his face, and it seemed to be an exact match for the Kincaid she knew and loathed. But the vacant stare got him wondering. "Hey dinkledork. Wake up. Time to move it!" she slapped 'Kincaid' hoping to snap him out of whatever 'trance' he was in until finally she resorted to a closed fist.

She was rewarded with a 'KLANG!' from 'Kincaid' and a banged up hand when Mishi realized that this was not the Jeffrey Kincaid they knew and loathed, but rather it was an android with even less personality than Kincaid had.

"Guys, this isn't Kincaid! This is a robot!" Mishi shouted.

Steven then turned to Justin as he saw the outrage the three former Ranger Guards were presenting. "I told you it wouldn't work." Steven said in an 'I told you so' manner.

"Are you always this much of a smart alec?" Justin asked. "No wonder your brother can't stand you."

This set Steven and Justin at each other as they tried to fight it out despite their hands being bound. Thandros quickly tried to break the two up. "Hey knock it off." Thandros said trying to separate Steven and Justin.

"He started it!" Justin shouted. Thandros however didn't care.

"Who started it is not the issue. Right now the issue is that we are the ones in charge." Michelle and Mishi all stood next to Thandros as he contemplated what to do next. Since Kincaid was not there there really was no reason to keep hostages.

"So does this mean we get to have some fun?" Michelle asked.

"I don't see why not." Thandros answered. Michelle seemed to relish the opportunity until she was distracted by the sound of an approaching engine and looked out the window to see what it was.

"Guys. We've got visitors." Michelle said.

Thandros looked outside and saw Vincent and Mackenzie coming their way. "Well now. It seems we have more guests." Turning to Mishi and Michelle Thandros smiled and said "Let's make them feel right at home."

Evil laughter came from the three Ranger Guardsmen which made Adam, Cassandra, Justin and Steven nervous. Steven however opened his hand and had shown the knife that he had palmed from Thandros in his and Justin's scuffle.

The knife had increased their chances for escape slightly. Justin also prayed that Roadbuster wasn't too far away.

On the I-80 people saw a blue semi truck streak across the sky, everyone looked up wondering how the truck could do that. Especially the highway patrol who were wondering whether or not they should pull the truck over for not going through the toll booths.

Roadbuster however was none too concerned about the tolls, especially since he was not on the road, but only following the path the roads provided. It deduced that the I-80 would be the best route to follow from Angel Grove to Port Clinton, especially when it joined up with I-90. Every second mattered if it was going to aide Blue Turbo.

The ETA on Roadbuster's chronometer said that he would arrive in Port Clinton in one hour. Whether that would be enough time to effect a rescue the zord did not know.

Not far away Kincaid and Sharon had rode onto the GSA base at Camp Perry. Sharon took in the site and seemed to enjoy it pretty well. "This is nice." Sharon said looking at the trees and grass all around. "Back in my reality there wasn't much nature. And any that there was we couldn't really enjoy."

"And here you can." Kincaid said. "I take it you told Alison that was why you were coming here." During the I.D.War when Kincaid and Sharon met to find the Matrix of Synergy Alison Hammond, the Yellow Night Ranger, ribbed Kincaid and Sharon no end as to what a cute couple the two would make. And even though the two felt a connection of some kind Sharon knew Kincaid's heart belonged to another, and that other was who they were coming here to rescue.

"I don't think it would help." Sharon said with a lopsided smile. Then her eyes focused on a flowerbed off to the right which seemed to adorn the walkway leading to the entrance of the PX. "Wow." Sharon said in a breath.

"Hey eyes on the road. We're going to have to turn soon." Sharon shook herself out of her reverie and asked another question. "Does the guard let you in all the time?" she asked referring to the guard at the main gate who let the two in.

"I do some business here from time to time." Kincaid answered. "Besides, the drill sergeants sometimes need help with...difficult members of their platoons. So they ask me to put them in some dark matches from time to time."

Sharon rode taking in all she could about the base. She saw GSA recruits marching during an infantry run, others going into the mess hall which was off to the left. Riding further she saw a small movie theatre off to the right as well small cottages which were used for on base lodging.

"You said they were close to the water right?" Kincaid asked Sharon. Sharon nodded yes.

"Let's get up there." Kincaid took the lead as he knew his way around the base. Sharon followed until they came up to the shore on Lake Erie and immediately started scanning the environment until they came to what appeared to be the boathouse that Sharon had mentioned.

"I'd say that's as good a place as any to start." Sharon said pointing to the boathouse she saw in her vision. They were about to ride over when a van had pulled up to the boathouse.

Sharon and Kincaid quickly hid off to the side behind some bushes. "Why are we doing this?" she asked.

"Because I want to make sure there are no more unpleasant surprises coming our way. If there are going to be unpleasant surprises I want it to be us, and I want whoever's got my friends to be the ones surprised." Sharon smiled a little as she thought about Kincaid's answer. "You have such a way with words you know that?"

"I'll give you some quotes you can use." Kincaid said as he and Sharon continued to look at the van. Kincaid was surprised as Vincent and Mackenzie both got out and didn't look like she was in any way his prisoner.

"What's going on here?" Sharon asked. "Is the girl in white your girlfriend?" Kincaid nodded yes and Sharon then asked the next question.

"Okay, so why isn't she his prisoner. If I didn't know any better I'd swear they were working together."

Kincaid was at a loss for words himself. He knew Mackenzie's White Astro Powers could have gotten her out of any mess she was in, especially since they had evolved her to her ultimate Angel mode. But no one knew how her Angel Powers would affect the baby she was carrying. Did she risk using the powers, or did something else happen? Kincaid wondered.

His thoughts were interrupted as three vehicles came and set down close by to where Vincent and Mackenzie stood. Sharon did not recognize the vehicles, but she did know the symbol on them as well as the pink, yellow and green colored uniforms they wore.

"Turbo Rangers?" Sharon asked. "Weren't they all destroyed?"

Kincaid cast a smirk in Sharon's direction and said "I guess Justin's been busy. Let's wait and see what happens."

Vincent and Mackenzie watched as Turbo Striker, Off Roader and Pay Loader set down. The three Turbo Rangers got out and Mackenzie was quick to get in their faces.

"Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?" she asked. Pink, Yellow and Green Turbos were quick to power down. Pink Turbo then shot Mackenzie a look as if saying 'how dare you talk to me like that.' Mackenzie wasn't the least bit intimidated.

"We just happen to be the new Turbo Rangers." Ivana said. "We're here because Justin needs us. And how dare you talk that way to a princess of Serenity 12."

"I don't care if you're the Princess Bitch Stephanie McMahon. If you want me to treat you with respect you've got to earn it with me." Mackenzie shot back. Both Mackenzie and Ivana looked ready to go at it when Vincent and Sylvie got between the tow.

"Ladies, ladies please. Save it for the people inside the house. You know, the ones who have got our friends?" Ivana nodded and backed away. Mackenzie however knew Sylvie and was amazed at how fast she had grown.

"Wow, Sylvie. You have sure grown up quick." Mackenzie said. The last time she had seen Sylvie she was still very much a kid who tagged along with Carlos. Now here she was, the Yellow Turbo Ranger.

"Thanks, but we have a job to do. But before we go inside can you two shake hands and play nice?" Ivana and Mackenzie looked at each other and both offered their hand. There was a firm handshake later and Sylvie went back to where Marco was standing.

Marco watched the confrontation and asked "Does this kind of thing happen often?"

"Nope." Sylvie said. "But then we are kind of new at this." Pink Turbo and Mackenzie then shook hands and made ready to enter the boathouse where their friends were being kept.

They were about to go inside when Mackenzie turned and looked into the bushes. She felt something familiar there, something that she knew. Was someone hiding there? she asked.

"Hey are you all right?" Pink Turbo asked shaking Mackenzie out of her trance.

"Yeah I'm fine." Mackenzie answered. "Let's do it." Soon Vincent, Mackenzie and the three Turbos went into the boathouse ready to get down to business.

Back in the bushes Sharon and Kincaid watched as the Rangers all went inside the boathouse. Sharon picked up Mackenzie's feeling of familiarity and told Kincaid about it. "Does she know I'm here?" he asked.

"She might suspect." Sharon said. "But I'd say that she knows that someone she knows is here." Kincaid rolled his eyes at how ridiculous Sharon made that statement sound, but right now it was time to check those feelings at the door. His friends needed help and he was going to be there for them. And his father and brother too.

"Let's get ready." Kincaid said. He and Sharon then left their hiding place making their way to the boathouse ready to attack.

Michelle looked out the window to see Vincent, Mackenzie and the three Turbos walking up towards them. "Hey Thandros. Vincent's here and he's got company."

"Let them in." Thandros ordered as Vincent, Mackenzie and the Turbo Rangers charged in. "Justin!" Yellow Turbo said as she, Pink and Green went to remove the hostage's bonds.

"Boy are we glad to see you." Justin said. As soon as the ropes were cut he flexed his hands hoping to get circulation back in them again. Steven was next, followed by Adam and Justin. Soon everyone was up on their feet and Steven was quick to get into Vincent's face.

"What are you doing here dad?" Steven asked glaringly. "Do you have something to do with this?"

"Of course he does." Mishi said with glee. "Vinnie hired us to make sure his boy was brought to him. But when we saw him coming, well we just couldn't refuse an opportunity to renew an acquaintance with some old friends now could we?"

Vincent then turned to glare at Thandros and his crew avoiding the look Steven was giving him right then. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Doing the job you asked of us old man." Thandros answered. "We're just looking to bring your son to you."

"I wanted Jeff alive. And I wanted to make sure he came. But I didn't want you to take his friends as part of the deal." Vincent continued to glare at the three Ranger Guards, but they were unfazed by Vincent's glare.

"For your information old man. Jeff Kincaid wasn't even on the boat. It was a robot dummy." Michelle said. "Not much of an improvement on the original though, but I think they were more concerned with getting that little white chickadee you had."

"Chickadee? Well I guess that beats a turkey, crow and a lame duck I guess." Mackenzie said lobbying her insults at Mishi, Michelle and Thandros respectively.

Vincent started coughing again as Mackenzie went to his side. Kneeling she tried to see if he was all right.

"Oh fine." Vincent said as he started to cough up his own blood. "I'll be okay soon." Mackenzie looked on unsure about Vincent's condition but Thandros wasn't moved by Vincent's ill health. Rather he and the other Ranger Guards looked rather confident right now.

"What are you smirking at?" Adam asked. Thandros didn't say anything, but Cassandra knew what was to come. "Find cover!" she shouted. Everyone seemed to duck as laser fire seemed to erupt into the air. In every corner of the central house a Coldblood stood firing its weapon at whatever Ranger target it could lock onto.

The Rangers all ducked for cover while Mackenzie managed to drag Vincent to a corner and closed her eyes. Her hands had glowed as she touched his chest hoping to find out what was wrong with him. When she finished she knew what the problem was. A problem she too had to face, but unlike hers all those years ago Vincent Kincaid's was terminal and far beyond her healing abilities.

"It's cancer isn't it?" she asked. Vincent turned and looked into the White Astro's eyes then nodded yes.

"I'm sorry." she said. Vincent just smiled.

"Don't be I've lived my life. All I wanted to do was say good bye to my son." Mackenzie then smiled.

"And kidnapping me was a sure fire way to bring him here. If he was still here." Mackenzie said as she looked at Steven and the Rangers all pinned down in isolated corners. Adam and Cassandra were hidden in one. Yellow and Green Turbo were in a corner off to the side. Pink and Blue Turbo were with Steven who still had the knife in his hand wondering what all he could do with it.

"It may be a wild idea, but maybe I can throw the knife. Make some kind of damage." Steven recommended. Blue Turbo dismissed the idea.

"No can do. Coldbloods are lethal shots with their arm weapons, and you may not like what they do either." Justin had laid down to Steven what a Coldblood weapon was capable of, right down to the matter rearranger, and Steven soon thought better of the idea.

Thandros however stood ready to fight with his two Ranger Guards and his herd of Coldbloods that they picked up from the Power Broker before he left. Thandros then brought out his gun and leveled it towards the Rangers huddled in corners. From his vantage point Thandros could pick off all the Rangers if his aim was good, and Thandros had deadly reflexes with a blaster weapon in hand.

"Time to say goodbye." Thandros sneered when he felt the gun get hot in Thandros's hand.

"What is it an overload?" Michelle asked. Thandros answered that he wasn't sure.

The gun grew hotter in Thandros's hand. Hotter and hotter until it turned to a burning red. It soon became too hot for him to handle and he wound up dropping it into the water of Lake Erie, followed by his hand which he needed to cool off quick.

Everyone looked stunned. How did the gun heat up like that? No one could have done what happened.

No one except...

The door then exploded in a burst of flames and Thandros and the Ranger Guard had to cover their eyes. Since the Turbo Rangers and Nightfighters were already hidden well enough they were provided with a measure of protection. When the debris settled two figures walked through the doorway. The first was dressed in black leather with a red uniform shirt under his black motorcycle vest. A black helmet covered his face and a symbol of a grinning demon was on the helmet and the belt buckle he wore.

The second stood wearing a sliver helmet with a black rectangle shape broken by yellow lines on the top front of the helmet. Her eyes were covered by a visor but everything below her nose was exposed. She wore golden body armor with a black oval shape on her chest. On top of the black oval was a silver 'x' which had a green circular gem. The bottom parts of the 'x' also went down to her waist where they ended and had green circular gems. The body armor fit her completely, and the leggings were silver colored with black line patterns and a green circle on either leg. Golden boots completed the ensemble.

"Mind if we cut in?" the woman in armor said.

Thandros wondered who these figures were as did the Rangers wonder who the one in gold armor was. But the Nightfighters knew who one of them were. One in particular as she said the name of the man she loved.

"Jeff...he's back." Mackenzie whispered. All around the room the Nightfighters expressed their recognition of the Red Night Ranger too.

"Are you saying that that's Jeff?" Steven asked Justin. "That sure doesn't look like the little brother I remember."

"He's changed a lot since he left home." Justin answered. "He's no longer the scared little boy he was when he left." Steven nodded and agreed to that.

Cassandra and Adam looked on as well. While they weren't sure when Kincaid would return they were glad to see him nonetheless. The woman in gold armor they had no idea who she was however but Cassandra did pick up several mental impressions from her. Impressions of a nightmare world where demons ran the galaxy, and humans were reduced to the role of slaves, pets, or even cattle.

The woman had also picked up impressions from Cassandra and the life she lived. The woman wouldn't have minded trading and she let Cassandra know in her own way. Nice life. Wanna swap? she asked telepathically.

No thanks, I don't think I could handle the pressure. was Cassandra's telepathic answer. You have a name?

Sharon, but you can call me Demon Hunter. I met Jeff on a mission recently. Sharon quickly sent the details of the fatal four way to Cassandra telepathically and she made sure the rest of the Rangers present knew the rest of the story using her own telepathy. Mackenzie then stood by Jeff and smirked as she said "Nice to know you're still being faithful."

"With you, always. No matter what Alison says." Kincaid answered as he faced the Ranger Guard who stood ready to face the inevitable. "Alison?" Mackenzie asked coyly. Kincaid just answered with "Joke on her part. Wasn't all that funny."

"I'll bet it wasn't." Mackenzie said with a smirk as she and Kincaid went back to face the opposition again.

Vincent also managed to sit up to get a look at his son. He stared on in disbelief at what he saw. "Jeff?" he asked.

Kincaid however gave no answer. Right now he had more pressing matters to attend to namely the opponents in front of him. "Heard you guys were looking for me." He said.

"Yeah, and now we've found you." Mishi said with Thandros and Michelle standing with her along with the regrouped Coldbloods before them.

"Get out of here!" Kincaid said to Mackenzie. "We'll hold them off." Mackenzie nodded and carried Vincent out of the boathouse. Steven followed leaving the Nightfighters, the Turbo Rangers and the Demon Hunter ready to face three ex-Ranger Guards and a battalion of Coldbloods waiting to strike.

"Don't let the Coldbloods' weapons hit you." Kincaid warned. "If they do you could wind up as a mouse or a trophy to put on their wall."

"We'll settle for the trophies." Michelle said. "Besides, your girlfriend looks good in gold. Why not complete the look?"

"Why don't you try?" Demon Hunter said staring at her new opponents before her. "But I should warn you, I've fought better than you."

"Better than us? In your dreams bitch!" Michelle scoffed.

"Well then, welcome to my nightmare." Demon Hunter said as she brought her Demon Edges to bear. "Let's dance."

Michelle, Mishi and Thandros stayed back as the Coldbloods took the front line beginning the attack. Everyone took on three Coldbloods on average. The Turbos, while inexperienced, seemed to be fighting well enough, especially after following Justin's lead. Justin made short work of the Coldbloods around him not allowing himself to underestimate his opponents. He knew the Coldbloods were efficient, and deadly, foot soldiers unlike the Putties, Cogs, and soldiers other Ranger opponents used.

The three newer Turbos stayed together believing in the adage of 'strength in unity'. They followed Ivana's lead who was the more seasoned fighter as Sylvie stood by Marco covering his back as he covered hers. Their fought well together, and despite some kinks in the fighting, managed to beat the Coldbloods that they had to defeat.

Adam and Cassandra were doubled up against their Coldbloods. Cassandra was familiar with them and covered Adam as he dealt with his opponents with his Dragon Saber. Three Coldbloods were cut down quickly, and Cassandra made sure the other three were taken out with her Emerald Ranger bow. Three arrows directly down the weapons barrels and that was all she wrote.

"Thanks for watching my back." Adam said.

"Anytime." Cassandra answered. "Now I wonder how that new girl is doing." Cassandra looked over in the Demon Hunter's direction as she was facing some Coldbloods of her own.

Sharon looked at the Coldbloods she had to confront. Never in her experience did she have to face anything like these machine warriors, but that didn't mean she wouldn't underestimate them. "All right, first the warm up."

The 'warm up' consisted of her leaping high in the air doing a somersault then landing giving one Coldblood a hard slash across it's chest knocking it down temporarily. As she approached the second one she gave a series of kicks to it knocking it back before blasting it with a punch in the chest and one final strike with her edges. Finally her attention was focused on the final Coldblood unaware that the first one was still somewhat operational and it's weapon was focused on her.

"Gold." It said as the Coldblood's matter rearranger converted to fire a beam that would turn the Demon Hunter to gold. Then as the shot was squeezed out Sharon ducked and the blast struck the final Coldblood leaving it a golden statue. Sharon then faced the first Coldblood and called forth her Demon Star Cannon firing blasts knocking the sentry down to the ground. It then deactivated permanently leaving Sharon standing over her would be attacker.

"I may be pretty enough to be a statue, but that doesn't mean I want to be one." Sharon said as she impaled the last Coldblood through where it's heart would be. Her mind shuddering as she thought of herself as a statue on display in Empress Bansheera's garden. "I won't be a trophy to Bansheera." She vowed.

Kincaid had his three Coldbloods to deal with, and as usual he wanted to end it quick. Going hand to hand he blocked whatever blows the Coldbloods were throwing then he back body dropped another into the path of a weapon being fired. A Coldblood shot one of his own and encased him in ice. Kincaid then followed up on the second Coldblood with a running tackle slamming it hard against the house wall.

All that was left was the third Coldblood Kincaid had to face. The two looked at each other with great intensity, until the Coldblood fell backward with a wheel kick that knocked it back down to the ground. The Coldblood looked up and saw White Astro looking up with her blaster in hand. After squeezing off a round the Coldblood was deactivated and White Astro quickly demorphed into Mackenzie.

"Did I miss anything?" Mackenzie stated.

"Nope. Just the mop up." Cassandra said. Everyone looked around to see the downed Coldbloods that were beaten. No way were they getting up now.

"Well that was easy." Marco said.

"Not too easy." Demon Hunter said. "Whoever built these things knew what he was doing."

"The Coldbloods were to secede the Guardsmen as foot soldiers." Kincaid mentioned. "And the Guardsmen were programmed to be skilled soldiers."

"Well they don't have their soldiers anymore.' Sylvie said as she and the others turned to face the three ex-Ranger Guards before them. Mishi, Michelle and Thandros all stood nervous due to there being no one left to fall back on.

"Let's see. Three of you, eight of us. Doesn't seem fair does it?" Ivana said sure of victory.

"No it doesn't." a voice said from nowhere. Everyone looked around when they saw five glowing orbs of red, black, blue, yellow and pink show up around the Ranger Guard and then solidified into human forms along with two more gray teleport silhouettes that appeared alongside. Demon Hunter looked at the seven new arrivals and cursed between her teeth. "Frell!" she said as the arrivals solidified.

The new arrivals were Obsidian, Tasha and the Neji Rangers.

"Who are you?" Thandros asked wondering about those who were apparently their new allies.

"We're here to help you defeat you're adversaries." Tasha said. "Just remember, the Demon Hunter is ours."

"If you're talking the woman in gold you're welcome to her." Mishi answered. "Just help us make sure these Rangers don't walk out of here."

"Agreed." Neji Yellow said as they faced their adversaries.

"Are those the Psycho Rangers?" Adam asked.

"I only wish." Demon Hunter said. "Those are an upgraded version of the Psychos from my home reality. They're the Neji Rangers."

"Oh so that's what the 'N' stands for. For a while I thought you were rejects of Ninjor." Mackenzie said.

"What!" Neji Blue shot but Neji Yellow shot a look at him. "Ignore it! She's just trying to goad you. If you forget that's how we ended up losing our fights when we were the Psycho Rangers." She told him

Neji Red looked at the Red Night Ranger. "Time for a rematch Kincaid. One on one. I hope you're healed enough from your battle with Destructor." Neji Red then raised his gauntlet at Obsidian and fired, intentionally missing, yet surprising Kincaid. "And don't even try interfering in this Obsidian."

Obsidian did not care for Neji Red's lack of respect. "Know your…" he started to say but Tasha stopped him. "You will have no interference Neji Red. At least from us."

Mackenzie however shook her head in disbelief. She had remembered her encounters with the Psycho Rangers and trusted them as far as she could throw them. "Now wait a minute. Since when has the Red Psycho Ranger given a damn about honor?"

Neji Red cast a glance in Mackenzie's direction. He may not have known who she was but he knew that she was very spirited. I can see why Kincaid fell for her. he thought before answering Mackenzie's question. "Getting blown to Hell by Rangers over and over again will make a person rethink his style." Neji Red stated. "And unlike that sociopath Harper, I respect you as a warrior Kincaid. What I don't understand is why you haven't done away with the bastard already. Why in the name of war would you leave an enemy, especially one with the mental state of Harper, alive?"

"Rangers don't kill." Kincaid said deadpan. "Unless it can't be avoided."

Neji Red considered Kincaid's words. "Admirable, but foolish. You know Harper will never stop coming for you until he beats you."

"Maybe, but then maybe Harper will probably realize he's got other things in his life to life for." Kincaid then let out a small laugh as if the remark had been something of a joke. "Then again maybe not."

"Let me offer you some 'friendly' advice Kincaid, in case you beat me this time." Neji Red said. "Killing Harper may not be avoidable. You may have to kill him before he does something rash."

"I'll take it under advisement." Kincaid said as the Turbo Rangers and Nightfighters all stood behind him and the Demon Hunter. The Neji Rangers looked at their foes and immediately took notice of them.

"Oh look, we've got other Rangers too." Neji Blue said looking at the Turbos and Cassandra. Some of them he had never seen before, but was anxious to beat them down within an inch of their lives all the same.

"Don't think we're going to make it easy for you." Blue Turbo said. "I remember what you psychos did to my friends in this reality. I've been itching for a chance to have a crack at you."

"Well then boy, we won't disappoint you." Neji Yellow said. "NEJI RANGERS ATTACK!" The Neji Rangers and the Ranger Guard then attacked picking an opponent for them to fight with.

Cassandra and Mishi were the first to face off right away. There had been some bad blood between the two for a long time and Mishi was looking to collect. There was only one problem, Cassandra was currently morphed.

"Isn't that a little unfair?" Mishi asked innocently. "I mean you have the Ranger powers and I don't. That's not very…sporting is it?"

Cassandra didn't trust Mishi at all. She knew that Mishi had to have some sort of trick up her sleeve, but couldn't figure out what it was. A field seemed to eminate around Mishi as if surrounding her in a null space where thoughts didn't leak out.

"If you're looking to pick up thoughts don't bother." Mishi said. "I've got a psi blocker on me. I want to make sure this is a fair fight."

Cassandra scoffed as if Mishi told a joke. "Since when have you cared about being fair?"

"Since I'm fighting someone with a clearer advantage over me." Mishi answered. "Now are you going to demorph or not?" Cassandra demorphed and she and Mishi stood face to face taking fighting stances ready to begin their battle.

Mishi threw the first roundhouse kick which Cassandra promptly dodged. Cassandra then followed up with a series of punches to Mishi's mid section, then delivered a front kick to the chin for good measure. Cassandra then backed away allowing Mishi to recover waiting for her to make the next move.

Mishi, to her credit, was calm and collected. She was not letting rage cloud her judgement and seemed very thoughtful as to what strategies she would use. Taking up the fighting stance again Mishi made ready for her next strike. Throwing a fake kick Mishi then followed up with a series of punches of her own then giving a roundhouse kick to the top of Cassandra's head knocking her down to the ground. Mishi then stood over Cassandra and stomped on the ground forcing Cassandra to roll away from the stomping feet until Cassandra stopped and made ready her next strike.

Taking a position on the ground Cassandra spun around and delivered a shot to the back of Mishi's leg throwing her off balance and down on the ground. Cassandra then stood back up and looked down on Mishi. "Give up?" she asked.

Mishi however reached into her pants pocket and pulled out something Cassandra hadn't seen. Turning around she threw the contents into Cassandra's eyes and blinded her. As Cassandra struggled to see Mishi quickly went on the attack delivering any blow she could land. And with the psi blocker Cassandra couldn't figure out what her opponent was doing next.

"Give up? Never! And fight fair? Only losers fight fair!" Mishi sneered as she continued to launch blow after blow to her opponent. There seemed to be no way to beat her now, but Cassandra wasn't about to give up.

Switching to her mind's eye Cassandra saw the environment in before her in her thoughts. She also saw a null void which could only have been Mishi, so Cassandra knew where she was. Also nearby was a stone sitting off to the side. A stone Cassandra could use.

Telekinetically lifting the stone Cassandra sent it flying towards Mishi as hard as she could despite the blows being landed towards her. It took a lot of effort for Cassandra to block out the pain and focus on her telekinetic attack. But she pulled off the effort and the stone hit Mishi from the back of the head knocking her out to the ground.

Cassandra then stood before Mishi's unconscious body favoring the bruises she had sustained. "I guess it was a fair fight after all." She said looking down at her fallen foe. She then watched as the others took on their opponents.

Mackenzie looked over the punk Michelle ready to fight. She decided not to fight demorphed due to her knowing Michelle would have her own tricks to pull, also she had the safety of her baby to consider. "You got any dirty tricks to pull?" Mackenzie asked.

"Just this." Michelle said producing a mace. A mace that radiated with dark power which enveloped Michelle and changed her wardrobe into a suit of armor. "In case you were wondering this mace is one of the mystic weapons of the Luciferian Empire that Epyon had in his vault. He did more than figure out how to have his way with women."

"Whatever." Mackenzie said. "You going to fight or just keep talking about it?"

"Oh I intend to fight. Right now!" Michelle then lunged towards Mackenzie but Mackenzie dodged the blow and tripped Michelle until she was sprawled on the ground. When Michelle sought to get back up Mackenzie followed up with her next attack. "REPULSOR KICK!" she said.

Michelle was knocked back again and the mace was knocked out of her hand. She struggled to reach for it but Mackenzie had other plans. Pulling out her Astro blaster Mackenzie fired disintegrating the weapon and taking Michelle's magic armor away. "I guess you need to find a new toy." Mackenzie sneered. Michelle made a face and ran away to find cover. On the way she tripped and fell unconscious as she hit her head on a nearby table. Michelle was no longer a threat.

"I wonder how Jeff is doing?" she asked herself. Mackenzie then turned to see Neji Red standing before her fiancee' ready to do their own battle.

Kincaid simply stared at Neji Red not saying a word. They had faced each other twice before, and Kincaid couldn't believe that Neji Red was looking for another round. Or maybe I can. Psycho Rangers always were persistent. he thought. And with the enhancements they've undergone that persistence can only have increased.

Well Kincaid. You must be honored." Neji Red said. "Very few foes cross dimensional gates so they can hunt down an enemy."

"Yeah. You and Harper must be real buddies at the country club." Kincaid answered back. Neji Red felt a slight frustration at being compared to Harper but he wasn't going to let Kincaid see it.

"I am nothing like that sociopath." Neji Red said with forced calm. "And rest assured this fight will be very different from the last." Kincaid briefly wondered what Neji Red meant by that when Neji Red brought out a device and held it in front of him. Kincaid noticed the design and suspected what the device was. A suspicion Neji Red was only too happy to confirm.

"NEJI SABER STAFF IGNITE!" Neji Red then activated his weapon which now mirrored Kincaid's and he brought it up to block his enemy's sword attack. Neji Red smirked under his helmet. "Like I said at the beginning Kincaid, this fight will be different from the last."

"Maybe." Kincaid said as he ignited his own saber staff. "You might have the same weapon, but do you know how to use it?" Neji Red decided to answer Kincaid's question by delivering an overhead smash to Kincaid which Kincaid deflected. Kincaid then tried to swing his staff for a shot in Neji Red's waist but Neji Red quickly deflected that.

What came next was a mix of thrusts, blocks and parries from both opponents, with neither getting a decisive shot in. "As I said before Kincaid, this fight will be different from the last." Neji Red sneered.

"Then I'll just have to crank up the volume." Kincaid said as he gave more force to his attacks. Neji Red responded by giving his own attacks with as much, if not more, force.

The fight increased in intensity as the two combatants moved outside. Neji Red matched Kincaid's blows with his own making sure to keep the battle to a standstill so he could wear down Kincaid and deliver the final shot. But Kincaid had done the same and the contest had become a contest of endurance. Everyone seemed to stop as Kincaid and Neji Red fought a battle of endurance wondering who would get in the final shot, and victory.

"Go Neji Red!" Neji Pink shouted.

"Beat him good!" Neji Blue said. Other cheers for Neji Red erupted from the dark forces while cheers for Kincaid came from the heroes.

"Come on Jeff!" Mackenzie shouted.

"Beat him good!" Sharon said.

The cheers from both factions drove these two warriors on. Neither were willing to give, and neither were able to gain. Both knew this, and Neji Red decided it was time to change the rules a little. He pressed a third switch on his saber staff and the weapon broke apart as Neji Red then did two slashes across Kincaid's chest with what was now two laser tipped swords instead of one saber staff. Neji Red looked over a downed Red Night Ranger then brought one of his swords up to impale his opponent. He would not make the same mistake Harper made by letting Kincaid live.

"I will kill you right here, right now!" Neji Red vowed as he brought the weapon down, only for Kincaid to BARELY roll out of the way at the last second. The blade struck only ground. That bought Kincaid some time, but Neji Red would make sure it wasn't much.

Neji Red swirled his duel laser swords while Kincaid picked up his own weapon. Kincaid may have been walking wounded, but he wasn't about to back down. Neji Red also wasn't willing to give up and soon the battle was back on again. Saber staff versus double blades. Neji Red had the advantage due to Kincaid's injury, even though the ranger healing was working overtime. Also Neji Red's two weapons versus Kincaid's one gave Neji Red a better reach.

But the saber staff wasn't the only weapon Kincaid had in his arsenal, as Neji Red soon found out as his weapons got hotter and hotter until the weapons became too hot to handle. Neji Red tried to hold on as best he could but the weapons soon became scalding and Neji Red had no choice to drop them. Kincaid then followed up with a leg sweep and a knockdown as Neji Red found himself flat on his back looking up at the blue sky above, and his opponent with his weapon at his throat.

Kincaid looked down at Neji Red, his sabre staff to his throat. Neji Red then raised his hand and said "I concede Kincaid. You are the victor here."

Kincaid nodded and retracted the saber staff. Neji Red then got back up and rejoined his fellow Neji Rangers. "You are an honorable foe. But come our next battle it will be for keeps."

"Yes it will be." Kincaid said who bowed and walked off to the side. Then, as if on cue, the rest of the Neji Rangers and Thandros resumed their battles, each picking their own opponent.

Neji Blue quickly set his sights on Blue Turbo. "Well it's been a long time Blue Ranger. I must say you are a far cry from when I last saw you. Of course you were trying to stop your family from being killed…and failing."

Justin looked at Neji Blue and didn't react. "I don't know what you're talking about. But I'll tell you there's no way I'm going to let my family die. And not by you."

"We'll see about that." Neji Blue launched into a drop kick that connected with Justin's helmet knocking him back. Neji Blue then tried to capitalize with more strikes but Justin quickly rebounded. They fought to a deadlock until Neji Blue decided to try to get under Justin's skin. "You know I remember the day you're family was purged. You tried to stop it. Your sister was the last one you were trying to save."

Justin's blood ran cold when Neji Blue mentioned Jessica. He could almost imagine monsters coming for his family. His father being killed and then the monsters coming for Jessica. Then Neji Blue said something that took Justin's train of thought in a whole new direction, and it wasn't a direction he wanted to go.

"I must say your sister was quite…good if you know what I mean. Just before she was purged." The thought of this monster's hands on his sister(even though in another reality) made Justin's blood boil, and then he got a burst of strength that sent Neji Blue back a good couple of feet into a rock, and Justin then beat into Neji Blue like a man possessed, even squeezing shots off his Autoblaster for good measure.

Finally Justin knocked Neji Blue down to the ground, and with his Autoblaster in hand Justin took aim at Neji Blue…right between his legs. Neji Blue quickly squirmed and begged not to do it but Justin wasn't listening.

"This is for Jessie." He said as the shot squeezed out of his Autoblaster and hit it's target. Half an inch away from Neji Blue's unmentionables. Suffice it to say Neji Blue was in no shape mentally to fight after that.

Neji Black had faced the new Green Turbo Marco. "Shouldn't you be going after a Black Ranger or something?" Marco asked. "I mean you Psycho Rangers usually do go after Rangers of your own color right?"

"One. I'm a Neji Ranger." Neji Black explained. "Two, green and black are interchangeable on the grid. So I can fight a green ranger or a black ranger. And you are my target for the day. NEJI POWER HATCHETS!" Neji Black brought out his twin axes and slashed hoping to make contact with Marco who dodged the swipes. He got in his shots, but nothing that could make Neji Black drop his weapons.

Just then Pay Loader came to Marco's side and activated his high beams in Neji Black's eyes. Neji Black was then blinded and this allowed Marco to get in his strike. With a flying side kick Neji Black was knocked down and out of the fight.

Ivana now had Neji Pink to deal with. And Neji Pink was studying her form very carefully. "You've obviously had some heavy duty training." Neji Pink said. "Under several trainers."

"Royal tutors." Ivana said. "Now are you going to attack or just look at me?"

"Oh I'll attack all right." Neji Pink then brought out her Neji bow and shot three arrows at Ivana. Two she was able to dodge but another hit Ivana in the shoulder and seemed to penetrate her suit. Ivana was still morphed but she had a black arrow through her shoulder and blood was starting to come out of the wound.

"From Pink Ranger to Red Ranger." Neji Pink sneered as she stood over Ivana who was trying to get the arrow out. The pain was electric and Ivana felt her whole body on fire, but she was able to dislodge the arrow from her shoulder and the Ranger healing immediately went to work on the injury. The arrow was in Ivana's hand, her blood covering the weapon. But then the arrow started to glow in her hand, as if the blood of the Pink Ranger was changing the arrow from an instrument of darkness into a weapon of light.

This gave Ivana an idea and Neji Pink quickly picked up on it. Quickly Neji Pink turned to retreat but Ivana brought her own bow out and using her injured arm to hold the bow in place Ivana drew the bow string back and fired the arrow. The shot impacted sending Neji Pink flying up into the air with a tremendous explosion and then back down to the ground hard.

"Darn I missed." Ivana said.

Neji Yellow had the Yellow Turbo Sylvie Larson to deal with. "I remember you. You were the Black Ranger's apprentice."

"Yeah and I was here too." Sylvie said thinking of Carlos. "Now I'm the Yellow Turbo."

"Doesn't matter. You will end up like you did in my reality. Dead!" Neji Yellow drew out her daggers and threw them at Sylvie who was grazed by the flying weapons that quickly returned to her mistress's hands. Neji Yellow then capitalized getting in a fast run and kicking Sylvie in the stomach. Then stomping as Sylvie rolled out of the way as Sylvie tried to avoid the approaching feet.

"Well it's nice to know you put up as much a fight as your counterpart did. Before she was executed." Neji Yellow sneered. "But it's to no avail."

"Wanna bet?" Sylvie said as Neji Yellow's boot came down again only for Sylvie to catch it and twist it so that Neji Yellow was in an ankle lock. Sylvie kept on the pressure and soon Neji Yellow felt her ankle snap slightly. Neji Yellow was out of the battle.

Next Obsidian came to face the Dragon Ranger Adam Park. "I must say that it will be an honor fighting you." Obsidian had said. "Your name is revered as one of the greatest Rangers of all time."

"Should I be honored by that?" Adam asked. "Or worried?"

"The latter." Obsidian said. "It meant that you were among the first to be purged in Empress Bansheera's world." Obsidian and Adam both drew out their swords and soon they fought with intensity. Adam's Dragon Saber clashing with Obsidan's blade, but Adam knew Obsidian was the superior swordsman as he evaluated his technique as they fought so Adam decided to change the rules a little bit.

Jumping back Adam fired a beam of energy at Obsidian which struck him dead center causing Obsidian to drop his blade. Adam then followed up with a running charge and slammed right into Obsidian knocking the wind out of him. Obsidian however refused to go down and quickly got back up again. Only this time the fight would be hand to hand.

Obsidian gave a polished fight. Each move perfect and flawless. But Adam was no slouch either. But unlike Obsidian Adam didn't think much about finesse. As the fight wore on Adam then jumped up and gave a flying back kick to Obsidian's chin. Obsidian was knocked down and Adam stood the victor. Cassandra then ran to his side. "You okay?"

"No problem." Adam said. "I just hope I don't have to fight a guy that good again."

Now it was Demon Hunter against Tasha. Both stood facing each other ready to go at it. "I've been waiting a long time for this." Sharon said focused on her opponent.

"Ah yes well." Tasha said. "I'm afraid you're going to have to wait a little while longer." Sharon could only briefly wonder what Tasha meant when she felt a jolt of pain go through her mind and she fell to her knees clutching her head and screaming in pain. Tasha took this opportunity to get in a few cheap shots as she kicked Demon Hunter back and threw a couple of punches to her face once the helmet was removed. When she was finished Tasha then got back up and Thandros walked up.

"Nice move." Tasha said. "Would you mind finishing her?"

"Not at all." Thandros said as he looked down at Sharon. "I sensed you were Kerovian, well at least part Kerovian. But apparently you were unaware of the black arts of Kerovian mind battle, otherwise you would not have fallen for so obvious an attack."

"And you would not have set yourself up for this if you weren't so cocky." Shaorn said as she fired a TK bolt that sent Thandros back. She then got up and launched her fighting strikes despite her head still spinning. Sharon tried to push past the pain and focus on the battle, and her opponent right now was Thandros, who realized he needed to change the rules a little bit.

"Let's try a more level playing field." Thandros said as Demon Hunter felt a blow to her mind then felt her mind leave her body and go to another plane of reality. When she looked around she saw herself hovering around a black skyscape with multicolored pattens swirling around her. As she looked around she saw her body taking an ethereal quality as if she radiated with power. When Thandros appeared before her his body had taken the same quality. And she could make out a sneer crossing his face.

"Welcome to the Astral plane." Thandros said as he seemed to fly around Sharon's etherial form. "This is my battleground here."

Sharon sighed. She knew Karone had an Astral Plane battle back in the I.D. War, a battle she had barely won. And right now Sharon was in one herself, and like Karone she was very inexperienced. But despite all that Sharon was aware of the principals of Astral Plane fighting, even though she never had a chance to put them into practice.

Thandros however was a master at Astral Plane fighting as he quickly put his battle experience to practice. Quickly he divided himself into aspects surrounding Sharon placing her in a bull ring leaving only one place to go, up. So Sharon flew up into the air and somersaulted to a safe distance. All the Thandros aspects were momentarily taken in by the beauty and grace of her as she did her somersault, and that gave Sharon the momentary distraction she needed.

"PSI BLAST!" she shouted as she fired a bolt of psionic energy at the aspects vaporizing them leaving only one Thandros standing. Thandros then realized that he was standing alone and then tried another tactic.

Calling upon the energy of the Astral Plane energy tendrils formed at his command encircling Sharon binding her securely as Thandros then stepped forward. She tried to struggle but it was to no avail. Thandros then brought forth his hand and then drove his fingers right into Sharon's forehead. Sharon screamed at the contact as all her thoughts and memories became his to know.

He saw Sharon as a little girl. Her mother and father showing their love for her. Then the day she was placed in a cryotube only to find out that when she awoke her home was gone, overrun by the demons who conquered it. And her parents-dead.

Thandros then became aware of Sharon's vow of revenge against the demons. Training and fighting, hoping for the day that she would be strong enough to stand against them. Other adventures followed. Her journey to the home of the Amazonians, her contact with the Nomad Star Tribe, trying to save Miyaka by giving her a machine body, being given the Crystalis for her mission.

And then the mission itself, to go back and prevent the demons from conquering her own reality. "A lofty goal. But futile." Thandros sneered. "Since you won't be around to complete it."

Thandros then continued to look through Sharon's mind, coming to her journey to Iocaste. Meeting Kincaid, becoming interested in him, curious by him, fighting alongside him, and…something else. Something Sharon tried to push away.

This only made Thandros more intrigued to learn more. He chased after the thought hoping to catch it, and the longer it evaded him the more determined he was to get it. His focus became centered on getting that one elusive thought, blinding him to everyone else.

And when he finally caught it Thandros was surprised.

For the thought she had wasn't a thought at all.

But a fantasy.

A fantasy of her and Kincaid.

Thandros watched as he saw the image. Kincaid had Sharon in his arms. Both looking longingly in the other's eyes. Then finally the two kissed, with such love and passion. Sharon enjoying every minute, as was Kincaid who were practically on the verge of making love. Thandros was so enamored by the image that he was unaware of the psi blast coming at him with full force.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Sharon screamed as she drove Thandros out of her mind. Thandros and Sharon were back in the Astral Plane. Sharon clearly had a look of rage on her as she felt violated by Thandros's mental intrusion.

Thandros sneered as he stared at Sharon. "He can never love you, you know. His heart belongs to another."

"I know." Sharon said. "But that has nothing to do with me kicking your ass from one end of the Astral Plane to the other!" Sharon then called forth her Demon Edges and attacked Thandros with incredible force. So much Thandros could not withstand it. The Demon Hunter's rage was too powerful for Thandros to contend with. Finally Thandros was almost down as Sharon stood over her fallen foe.

"I may not be able to have Jeff as a lover. But one thing I will always have is his friendship and camaraderie. And in that way I can have his love and he can have mine. And Mackenzie can have the love she has with Jeff. Unlike you who can love nothing." Sharon then brought up her Demon Star Cannon and fired off one last shot which kncoked Thandros out of the Astral Plane with Sharon in close pursuit.

Sharon and Thandros returned back to their bodies and as she looked down at her fallen foe who was getting back up. "Is that all these boys have got?" Demon Hunter asked. "Geez. I've burned better sweat in training."

Thandros sneered. "All Right Demon Bitch. If it's better you want, then it's better you'll get." A portal then appeared and soon a monster came out of it and stood before them. He looked to be a cross between a demon and a machine, almost as if one of Diabolico's race was assimilated by the Borg on Star Trek.

"This is D-Borg." Thandros explained. "One of Epyon's experiments before he left for wherever. He is the ultimate in computer efficiency, and cold blooded murder. He is a warrior with no pity, no heart, and no equal." Demon Hunter looked over the monstrosity before her, and glared at it with hatred.

For even though the monster was buried under lots and lots of technology she still saw in it a manifestation of all the evil she had come across in her own world. War lords like Diabolico and Bansheera who ran roughshod all over her home and several others as well. Sharon briefly wondered how many lives the demon had taken before Epyon got his claws into him, then she stared at her opponent ready for battle.

"Okay, I wanted a challenge I guess I've got it." She then drew out her Demon Edges and looked over D-borg. "Let's dance."

"Yes, lets." a voice said from behind and Demon Hunter soon found herself shot from behind. As she struggled to get back up Demon Hunter felt a boot on her back where the laser bolt struck. From the tone of her voice DH knew right away who it was...Tasha.

"At last." Tasha said with a sneer. "The Demon Hunter, ground under by the forces of Empress Bansheera. This victory is so sweet."

Demon Hunter turned up and looked at the sneering Tasha. "You'll never win Tasha. Even if I don't stop you someone will."

"Don't be so sure." Obsidian said joining his partner. "Just as your reality fell to the will of the Empress, so will all realities we come across. All worlds will bow down to the will of Empress Bansheera."

"Not so fast. This is my court." a voice said from behind, and soon Tasha and Obsidian were knocked back across the ground. When they looked up Kincaid was charging at them.

"Play by my rules!" he said charging with his saber staff ignited and ready to strike. And strike he did, along with the other Nightfighters.

Everyone charged at their opponents one more time. And with the Neji Rangers only recently recovering from their defeats as well as the Former Ranger Guard, the Nightfighters, Turbo Rangers and Demon Hunter were still well on their game plan. They beat back the dark forces, Sharon even got in a shot at Tasha with a missile drop kick that connected right to her jaw.

The final straw came from none other than Mackenzie herself who morphed into her angel form and shone her light out for all to see. The forces of good took comfort in Mackenzie's energy while the Ranger Guard, Tasha, Obsidian and the Neji Rangers were being driven back. Obsidian looked at the light for only a moment before Tasha turned him away from it. And when Mackenzie brought the light down the Nightfighters, Demon Hunter and Turbos were still ready to do battle.

Sharon looked at Mackenzie with a newfound respect. She had heard legends of the power of White Rangers, but never saw them in practice until today. Sharon had heard that White Rangers were special people with special powers, and right away knew she had no reason to deprive Mackenzie and Kincaid of the happiness they felt together.

Kincaid turned back to the retreating forms of the Nejis, Tasha and Obsidian. "Like I said. My court. My rules."

Neji Yellow cursed beneath her helmet as she and her forces backed away. Some of them were able to move on their own power, while others were not. Damn it we're not doing well at all. These Nightfighters are a lot more powerful than we expected. Incredible fighters to say the least. Neji Yellow also got the answer to her question of why White Rangers were regarded more of a threat than any other Rangers. With the power they had the Chaos Dynasty would have been severely threatened.

Neji Yellow considered her options and they didn't look good. There's no way we can go back empty handed if we have to retreat. I can just imagine what Harper or any of the more arrogant members of the Order will say once we come back. There has to be a way to salvage this somehow! She then felt something hit her left side and she turned around.

She saw the unconscious body of Mishi Fujikawa. As she looked on at the body and scanned it, underneath the helmet she smiled.

And I think I just found that way. Neji Yellow picked up the unconscious body of Mishi and then cast a final look back at the Nightfighters, Demon Hunter, and Turbo Rangers. "You've won this time. But you are only postponing the inevitable. All will feel the will of the Empress Bansheera and bow down before her." That was the last thing they said before teleporting out. Only Thandros and Michelle remained, and they were unconscious in a corner.

"Is it over?" Ivana asked.

"For now." Demon Hunter said removing her helmet letting her long blonde/brown hair flow freely. Every male in the area took notice of Sharon's ravishing beauty, including Adam-unfortunately for him.

Cassandra picked up on Adam's thoughts and elbowed him in the ribs. "Hey! Remember me?" she asked sarcastically. But she cast a smile in his direction as if forgiving him.

"People, I'd like you to meet Sharon Lanrydan. We met in another reality." Kincaid said as he introduced her to everybody. The Rangers all took her hand as if they were glad to meet her. Until they heard movement outside. They all turned ready for battle to see who was looking for one last piece of the Rangers.

D-borg tried to stand again as if ready to fight further when a truck horn was heard, and almost like a Road Runner Cartoon Roadbuster appeared and ran over D-Borg like it was Wile E. Coyote. The Nightfighters, Turbos and DH all saw D-Borg go flying and then land with a hard splat nearby. He looked almost like a bug on a windshield.

Roadbuster then backed up and Justin looked to see if the Zord had taken any damage. Everything looked okay and Justin gave a thumbs up for reassurance.

"And that's all she wrote." Cassandra said.

Everyone then made their way back to the Shootfighting rink where they all decided to kick back and relax before going about their business. Mackenzie decided she wanted to get to know Sharon better so she went off to the guest room which consisted of a small bunk and dresser. It was only used for travellers who were looking to stay for a day or two before moving on.

Mackenzie looked at Sharon as she was cleaning her Demon Star Cannon. Wow. Beautiful and deadly. she thought.

"But nothing that leaves a candle to you." Sharon said turning her head up to a stunned Mackenzie. Cracking a smile Sharon then added "Being Kerovan helps."

"Kerovan?" Mackenzie asked. "Like Andros?"

"Well, not quite like dad. But close." This raised Mackenzie's eyebrows even more. "Andros is your dad?"

"And Ashley is my mom too. I'm afraid I don't know if I have an aunt Alison or not." Sharon bowed her head slightly. "But if she's like the Alison I met with your team, I'd be honored to be related to her."

"You know there may be a possibility Alison is not good, if there's one in your home reality." Sharon nodded acknowledging Mackenzie's statement. During the Fatal Four way she and Kincaid were in, they became aware of the dark potential of Alison Hammond when they met Destructor's emissary Alison Doe, who was another version of Alison Hammond. Sharon found her to be a formidable, and dangerous opponent to say the least.

Deciding to change the topic Mackenzie then asked "So what do you think of Kincaid?"

Sharon then let out a little smile and tried not to think about her fantasy Thandros exposed in the Astral Plane. "He's a hottie. You've got quite the catch there."

"I know." Mackenzie stated. "But don't you think he does a little too much of the 'brooding loner bit'?"

"I wouldn't know." Sharon answered. "While trying to fight off Bansheera, I never really got to notice things like who was a loner and who wasn't."

Finally Mackenzie asked "So did you…?" Sharon paused for a second as she thought about the fantasy that Thandros unleashed during their Astral plane battle. For a moment she thought about lying to Mackenzie saying that she wasn't interested in him, but she wasn't sure she could lie with a straight face about that. She deserves the truth. Sharon thought and gave it to her.

"No. But I was tempted. Who wouldn't be?" Mackenzie nodded when she understood what Sharon was getting at. "And, I could tell he was tempted by me too."

Sharon then said. "I asked him a question, and I told him to answer as honestly as he could. I asked 'What do you see when you look at me?' Kincaid answered 'A beautiful woman, who is deadly, has a good personality and someone I'd like fighting by my side, and get to know.' Then I asked him what he saw when he looked at you, and in his mind I saw a light shine within him that seemed to stretch to the soul, and he said that when he thought of you he thought of the woman he loved."

Mackenzie had a tear streak down her eye which she wiped away. "You mean that?"

"Of course I do. And so does he." Sharon answered. "We both know that if we acted on impulses it would just be a roll in the hay. We wouldn't have the lasting love that you and Kincaid have now. Nothing would come from it. I have his friendship, and that's enough for me…and him."

Mackenzie then let out a smirk. "But you still wonder?"

"Now who's the mind reader?" Sharon said and still kept her honesty. "Yeah, I wonder what it would be like to be with him, I even have the fantasy to prove it." Sharon then said that Thandros brought a fantasy of her and Kincaid together out of the depths of her mind. Mackenzie was surprised.

"I don't want to be a homewrecker. And I won't let myself be one." Sharon vowed. "But I do think he wonders what it would be like to be with me, however he loves you so much he won't act on it." There seemed to be some pause after Sharon spoke and Mackenzie wondered what it was. Sharon then explained.

"In my reality, I never really knew what love was. I never had a chance to explore it. Most everything I saw and dealt with was fighting against the demons never knowing when my next friend would die. So I never really explored the concept of romance. I was always…"

"…afraid?" Mackenzie asked. Sharon gave a lopsided smile and said "Yeah. I kind of got the notion that I would spend the rest of my life alone, because I didn't want to endure the pain of having lost someone, and when I saw Kincaid…"

"…say no more. I think I can get it." Mackenzie then paused and answered. "You know Jeff wasn't exactly the big love explorer either. He's had to deal with some painful episodes from his past. The loss of friends, betrayal. He's really been through a lot." Soon Mackenzie started to tell Sharon about episodes from Kincaid's past up to the point where they met and fell in love. Sharon then looked a little bit envious and said "I wish I could feel what you guys feel for each other."

It was then that Mackenzie's mind came up with a mischievous plan. "You know I think we can do something about that." Sharon wondered what Mackenzie was getting at when she then brought up her morpher. "LET'S ROCKET!" she said as she punched in her morpher code and morphed into the White Astro Ranger. Sharon looked on confused until she saw a white light emanate from Mackenzie that seemed to get brighter and brighter then seemed to move towards her and surround her whole being. Sharon was afraid only for a moment but Mackenzie's calming influence seemed to come from the light.

Don't be afraid. You won't be harmed. Just open your mind. Sharon nodded, relaxed and stretched her arms into the air standing in the light that was Mackenzie's being. All the while her mind opened up to the memories that made up Mackenzie Dekalb. Her childhood, her time as a Ranger, her love for Kincaid, everything that was Mackenzie became Sharon's to know.

Mackenzie also became aware of Sharon's presence and life. She knew of Ashley and Andros raising her, having to place her in a cryo tube to keep her safe from a disturbance, waking up in a demon ruled Earth where all her family and friends were killed, fighting the demons when she was old enough, and then taking up the powers of the Demon Hunter. So much pain and strife, Mackenzie was amazed that Sharon made it through all of it.

Then came the I.D. War and Sharon meeting Kincaid. Right away Mackenzie knew Sharon was drawn to Jeff. There was just something about him that she just couldn't get out of her mind. And as Sharon's thoughts became aware to Mackenzie she saw the same aspect Kincaid had in Sharon as well. They were so much alike in so many ways, yet different in others too.

Wow Mackenzie thought as she considered Sharon's life. You really had it rough.

So have you. Sharon thought back. Maybe not as bad as me but pretty rough. It was then that Sharon became aware of Mackenzie's next idea. You sure about this?

Why not? This way you can share in the love Jeff and I have, even if only for this one night. Sharon so badly wanted to know what love was since she never had a real chance to, and found Mackenzie's idea interesting to say the least. Oh by the way. Nice fantasy.

Sharon couldn't help but smile in her own mind at Mackenzie's comment as she then opened her mind completely to Mackenzie and the light seemed to enter her entire body filling her entire being, as if transforming her. Sharon's body then became energy itself as the light that was Mackenzie merged with her entire being. Finally the light died down and only one woman stood in the room.

Sharon Lanrydan and Mackenzie Dekalb had merged into one being. For a while they would be one person.

At the entrance to the men's showers Kincaid stood drying off with a towel when Cassandra had come in. Kincaid quickly put on his robe and stood to face his Nightfighter teammate. "Tough fight?" she asked.

"I've had tougher." Kincaid said. "What's up?"

"Just wondering how things are going." Cassandra stated. "Boiling Hot told me about the baby you and Sharon brought back with you. A baby that belonged to an alternate version of you."

"Yeah. The other me, and another Mackenzie…couldn't take care of her. So we had to make sure she found a home somewhere. I figure my world was as good a place as any other."

"I guess." Cassandra stated. "What was it like to meet yourself?"

Kincaid couldn't help but smirk at that. "You ever hear the expression that if you travel far enough you'll eventually find yourself?" Cassandra nodded then added "Let me guess, that's an experience you'd rather not repeat again."

"You said it." Kincaid answered back. He then pulled out another red t-shirt and pair of jeans from his locker and slipped them on after putting on a change of underwear and socks. Cassandra turned around giving Kincaid some privacy then turned back around when he finished dressing.

"Going to see your father?" Cassandra then asked. Kincaid sighed and nodded.

"He's obviously gone to great trouble to get my attention. Might as well see what he wants." Kincaid answered. Cassandra sighed knowing Kincaid's dilemma. She herself had problems with her own father when she was younger, but not to Kincaid's degree.

"Listen to what he's got to say. You might never get the chance again." She stated. Kincaid wondered what she meant but decided not to ask. Instead he turned his thoughts elsewhere and changed the subject.

"I wonder what the Neji Rangers wanted with Mishi." He then said.

Cassandra nodded in wondering as well. While Mishi Fujikawa was nowhere on her list of favorite people she too took notice of the Neji Rangers taking her. "Whatever it is, it can't be good."

Back at the Order's base.

Lord Mirabilis looked on at Destructor. Evil Q, Empress Bansheera, and Galvatron II before speaking. "They should be returning…now."

As he said that, the party that had been sent to take out Kincaid and Sharon returned.

"It never ceases to amaze me your accuracy with timings Mirabilis." Destructor said.

"Thank you." Mirabilis replied. Empress Bansheera then looked at her warriors. "Well. What happened?"

Obsidian spoke truthfully to her. "We found out targets, but they were not alone. The Nightfighters…"

"Defeated you?" Destructor said. The Neji Rangers nodded. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

Bansheera however wondered what the Destructor meant by that comment. "Oh my apologies if I've offended you Empress. It's just that the Night Rangers are so unconventional, that anyone who went against them would find them tough to beat. I mean the Luciferian Empire fought them for centuries in their own reality and fought them to a deadlock until Crucible joined them."

"And look what happened afterward." Empress said. "We need more to go on. I trust our resident 'genius' is resuming work on our 'projects?'"

"Yes." Mirabilis answered. "Work on the Dark Ryders is proceeding. As well as other Dark Warriors who will tip the balance in our favor. Victory in this war will be ours for certain."

"Provided we don't send failures again." Evil Q said. Neji Yellow however had something else to contribute.

"The mission was not a total failure." Neji Yellow said correcting Evil Q's comment.

Mirabilis looked back at Neji Yellow. "We have not seen much of you, but I know you to be very intelligent and you wouldn't say such a thing unless you had proof to back up your words. You have my interest Neji Yellow."

"Simply put, we are the evolutions of the Psycho Rangers, there is a Psycho Purple here in the Order…" Neji Yellow then stepped aside to reveal the still unconscious Mishi Fujikawa. "…and here we have an ex-Ranger Guard member who has an inate purple signature."

Neji Yellow then came to her plan. "It's time to give my team, and the Order, a new member."

Everyone in the group seemed to agree with Neji Yellow's assessment, as evil laughter filled the base.

At the Port Clinton stationhouse two brothers looked at each other for the first time in years. They found out their father was transferred over to the main jail and were about to go there until they stopped and stared at each other. Both sizing the other up wondering what to make of the person they are facing.

"So." Steven said trying to break the ice. "How have you been?"

"Fine." Kincaid answered. "What do you want?"

Steven picked up the bite in his brother's voice and acknowledged it. "I see you still remember how things were at home."

"And if you want me to come back. Don't bother asking." Kincaid said. Steven was already starting to lose patience but tried to keep his cool.

"Look Jeff. When you ran away from home, we didn't know what happened to you. We were grateful that you were with Grandma Katherine, but we wanted you to come home."

"Home?" Kincaid said. "Home is somewhere where a person is supposed to feel safe. It's supposed to be a place where one can go to when the world is too much for them. I remember home being none of that. I remember a bunch of control freaks and bullies tearing my head and my heart apart. And yes Steven, you were one of them."

"But things are different now." Steven said. "We're proud of the life you have built for yourself here, and your mother and I were wondering...if..."

"...you could be part of it again?" Kincaid completed Steven's sentence. "I don't know about that. I'm not exactly very forgiving when it comes to abuse."

Steven then couldn't keep it in any longer as he exploded. "DAMN IT JEFF CAN'T YOU JUST DROP THE ATTITUDE FOR ONE SECOND? I KNOW WE HAVEN'T BEEN THE GREATEST FAMILY TO YOU! AND WE KNOW YOU HAD TO LEAVE FOR YOUR OWN PEACE OF MIND! BUT DAMN IT WE MISSED YOU! WE WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN! WE WAN'T TO BE PART OF YOUR LIVES AGAIN! AND ABOVE ALL I WANTED TO SAY..."

"What?" Kincaid said. "Say what?"

Steven had tears in his eyes but Kincaid wasn't moved by them. As he looked at Steven he couldn't see the repentant brother, he couldn't see the sadness in his eyes. All Kincaid could see was one of the tormentors of his youth. Someone who did much of the yelling and bickering in the house, and always shouted down Jeff. Cursing, shouting, and sometimes beating Jeff up just to get his point across. For all that Kincaid vowed that he would never forgive Steven Kincaid.

Just as he would never forgive Vincent Kincaid for betraying him on Iocaste, and for taking his fiancee' and unborn child just to get Kincaid's attention. Whatever Vincent had to say to him, Kincaid was not interested to hear.

Kincaid found peace in the cold of his soul. He didn't need to forgive his brother for all the childhood torment of his youth that nearly tore him apart. It was like a saying he had heard, "To err is human, to forgive divine, but condemning is a lot more fun."

Then Steven got on his knees and looked up at his brother and said the words Kincaid never thought he'd hear Steven say...and mean.

"I'm sorry Jeff."

This action really shocked Kincaid as his face reflected surprise for the first time. As far back as he could remember Kincaid remembered how self-righteous all his family were and how he always had to be the sorry one. Now all of a sudden here was Steven being the sorry one.

"We only tried to do what was right by you. But we never really saw the consequences of the tactics we used. All we saw was someone who needed to be yelled at in order for him to listen to us. But we didn't see that you were listening, just not in the way we expected. And that led to you leaving. We're so sorry for driving you away, and if you don't want to accept our forgiveness I guess we won't blame you."

Kincaid stood moved by what Steven had said. His heart started to thaw as he was moved by Steven's words. But there was a part of him still there that said Write him off. He doesn't deserve it. and Kincaid was tempted to listen to it. To just turn around and walk away, never having to hear his brother again.

But he couldn't it wouldn't have been fair.

Kincaid looked down at Steven and offered his hand as if helping him to get a leg up. Then he said his peace. "I can't come home if that's what you want. There are just too many memories there."

"And you're afraid that if you do that the cycle will start back up again." Steven said in understanding. "Sometimes I am too."

"Besides, as you can see I've kind of got my own life now." Kincaid said motioning to the rink. "With a wife and baby on the way. I need to be strong for them."

"I understand that." Steven said. "However please try to understand that we don't want you to be a part of our lives again. We want to be part of yours. And no it wouldn't mean that we are going to move up here with you. I don't think anyone of us could handle that."

Kincaid let out a small laugh at that and agreed. "What we do want to do however, is come up for a visit now and then. See how you are faring, and see the children and my new sister-in-law when I get the chance. We don't want to bring you into a madhouse again. That wouldn't be good for you, your wife or your baby."

Kincaid couldn't argue with that. He had his own life now, and clearly didn't want to go back to the old one. Little by little the voice in him that told him to write off Steven became quieter and quieter and Steven started to be seen in a new light. Then an idea came to Kincaid's mind, and he wondered if Steven could be trusted with it.

"On one condition." Kincaid said. Steven perked up and said "Name it."

"I need you to look after Mackenzie while I'm away." Steven seemed taken aback by this until he realized that it must have something to do with the other part of his life. A very important part.

"This has to do with Ranger business doesn't it?" Steven asked.

Kincaid nodded. "I know you may be concerned about me, and I do appreciate it. But this is something that I have to do. No one else can."

Steven looked at his brother in a new light. No longer was he the little brother who was pushed around. Here standing before him was a fighter. A Power Ranger who took no bull from nobody. And he knew that whatever Kincaid had to do was important. And that he was willing to trust his girlfriend into Steven's care was a symbol of trust into itself.

"Don't worry bro. I'll look after her until you get back." Steven promised. "Now what are you going to do about that baby you've got?"

Kincaid sighed. Adam and Cassandra were taking care of the unnamed child as the two brothers spoke. When he and Sharon left the Fatal Four Way the alternate version of Kincaid made his counterpart promise that the baby would be well looked after. In a sense, the baby was his responsibility, even though the child wasn't actually his. His own child was in Mackenzie's belly growing.

"Well I do want her to have a good home that's for sure. Any ideas?"

"Maybe one." Steven answered. "There is a family I know of in the Carolina's that's looking to adopt a child. I could ask and see if they would be interested in taking her in." Kincaid nodded as if agreeing with his brother's idea. Despite their differences, Kincaid knew that Steven wouldn't leave a baby on a doorstep. He'd see to it that the child would have a good home. Steven then looked at his brother and asked the Million Dollar question.

"So, what are you going to do about dad?"

Kincaid wasn't sure. Steven was aware of when Vincent sold Kincaid out on Iocaste, s well as what he had been doing since. The kidnapping of Mackenzie in order to have a father/son moment seemed like an act of desperation than anything, but still Kincaid wasn't much on forgiveness.

"I'd almost say write him off. But I suppose I'd better see him at least once to see what he wants." Steven nodded in agreement.

"Need a ride?" he asked. Kincaid said no as his Harley was close by. Steven got into his truck and the two brothers rode and drove to the Port Clinton City jail.

The two brothers had made their way to the Port Clinton city jail where they had been cleared to see Vincent. When they made it to his cell, both Steven and Vincent looked at him, and were surprised by what they had seen.

Inside the cell was a pathetic wretch of a man Kincaid once admired. Once looked up to and wanted to emulate at one time. Then with the divorce from his mother and the betrayal to the Luciferians all that changed.

Seated in the room was nothing that reminded Kincaid of the good man who he admired. Now was a sorry excuse of a man who was not long from this world. Kincaid remembered the words Vincent said to him that threw him for a loop.

"I'm dying son."

Kincaid didn't know what to say about that. He still didn't even now that they were up to the door that Vincent was behind. Steven then turned to his brother and asked "Do you want to go in together or separately?"

Kincaid knew the answer to that right away. "Separate. I think what I say to him I want between me and him. No offence to you of course."

"Of course." Steven said as he motioned the guard to open the door. Kincaid stood on the other side waiting for Steven to begin. Sure enough he did.

What had happened on the other side seemed to be a symphony of emotion of sorts. Things started out cold in the room, then built up as tempers started to flare and emotions ran hot. Shouting between the father and older brother started to build to such intensity that guards had to come and break the two up.

Kincaid took in all the loud voices and realized that he had made the right decision to leave when he did. Next thing that happened Steven came out of lock-up a smile clearly spread across his face.

"Okay, I'm done. He's all yours." Steven said clearly happy for the first time in a long time. "You ready?"

Kincaid sighed. "As I'll ever be." Going to the guard he asked if Vincent was calmed down enough. The guard nodded yes.

"All right then. Open it up." The guard did so and Kincaid walked into the holding area where his father sat.

Kincaid crossed the floor taking in the sight of his father in prison grays. He sat at the desk cuffed and his head bowed down. Vincent Kincaid was a far cry from the father figure Kincaid remembered when he was younger. Instead here was a man, who had been humbled and brought down in life. Here was a man who was a pathetic wretch of what he once was.

Vincent then looked up to see his youngest son face him. "So, are you here to yell and holler as your brother has?"

"No." Kincaid said keeping his face neutral. "I think Steven already took care of that." Kincaid then sat in the seat across from his father. "Okay, you said you wanted to talk. So talk."

Vincent sighed as he said his peace. "I know I haven't been the best father to you. Running off from you guys, divorcing your mom, selling you out."

Kincaid gave a lopsided smile. "That's putting it mildly."

Vincent acknowledged the remark but continued to speak. "What I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being a better father to you. Sorry for wronging you the way I did. And I'm sorry for taking your girlfriend from you. I didn't want to hurt her or my grandchild. I just...no scrap that. There's no justification for what I did. Even looking to get some money to feed myself seems like a poor explanation." Kincaid sat back and did nothing except listen to his father speak.

"I know you might be thinking 'would he be saying all this if he wasn't dying?' Well, probably not. But I just wanted to clear the slate with you, and hope you can forgive me." Vincent then put his hands back on the table indicating that he had finished his speech. Now it was Kincaid's turn.

"Nice speech dad. And I'll agree with what you said in that the things you have done were inexcusable. Running out on us, selling me out, kidnapping Mackenzie. And I've tried to understand what it was that made you be the bastard you are today. And you know what? I have a few ideas, but I'm not sure I want to know the truth here." Kincaid sighed before continuing.

"However, I'm not going to spend the rest of my life hating you for sins of the past. You are my father, and I will always love you in that regard. Even though there are some gaps in the father/son relationship that will never be completely filled." Vincent sighed grateful for what his son said, but he also knew that Kincaid was correct in his saying that there would be gaps that would never be completely filled.

"As for forgiveness, that's something I can't grant you. That's a matter that's between you...and God." Vincent bowed his head in sorrow as Kincaid turned to walk out of the jail. Steven was waiting for him. "You okay?" Steven asked.

Kincaid didn't answer for a long time. The only response of any kind he gave was a sigh before going back to his motorcycle. He started the engine and rode down the street oblivious to everything except one thing.

He had to get home and see Mackenzie before he left, and tell her how much he loved her.

Awareness started to come to Mishi Fujikawa who was regaining consciousness. As she started to wake up more she found herself restrained. Her wrists, legs and waist were all held down by tight leather straps, and she found herself tied down to a slab. Looking around the room Mishi tried to make out some features, but couldn't identify anything. Mishi also tried to thrash about hoping to loosen the straps but they remained as tight as ever.

"Where am I? What's happening?" she asked. Fear evident in her voice.

Her answer came in the form of the Neji Rangers and Empress Bansheera who circled around the slab Mishi was on. "Welcome Mishi Fujikawa." Neji Yellow said. "You have been chosen."

"Chosen?" Mishi asked. Fear and anger creeping into her voice. "Chosen for what?"

"To join my forces." Empress Bansheera said. "The forces of the Neji Rangers."

The Neji Rangers all stood in a circle around Mishi. The Purple Psycho morpher which had been borrowed from Taanya was suspended above Mishi, who was remaining perfectly calm. Standing above her was the Empress, and the more Mishi looked around the more scared she felt.

"Why me?" Mishi asked. "Why choose me?"

Neji Yellow answered this question. "Because of your evil heart, as well as the traces of purple energy in your body. These we can put to use. And you would have powers again. Powers that only being a Neji Ranger can provide."

This seemed to get Mishi's interest. "Powers? What powers."

"You'll find out." Neji Yellow answered as she rejoined the circle around Mishi. The Empress was ready to begin.

"It's time." The Empress said. With those words the Neji Rangers shifted into their true forms. The Empress looked at Mishi. "Try to stay calm. It won't hurt…much."

The five Neji united their power and sent it into the purple morpher to make their template from it and connect their powers to the new Neji power they were creating. The Empress then added her own magic to begin the process and make the double manifest in reality. Once the template was constructed and ready, it then flowed down into Mishi's body, which was absorbing the power.

Nothing happened for five seconds.

After that, all Hell broke loose.

"AAARRRGHHH!" Mishi screamed out as she felt burning pain all through her body. It felt like she was on fire and that her entire body was going to explode. She wasn't that far from the truth as she saw her own body starting to grow. Her muscles, her legs, her hands, her chest, nothing was spared as she felt growth in size all over.

And then came the changes in appearance. Her skin was turning to a shadow of dark purple and started to feel different. She felt incredible pain from her back as if something was trying to break through it. She got that same feeling from the top of her head as her hair was changing to a different tint. In her mouth she felt her teeth elongating and becoming sharper, and her vision and hearing were becoming more and more acute.

After a few minutes the process was completed. The creature on the table then broke off the restraints and when it stood up, two large black-purple bat wings burst out of her back. She gave one last cry of pain before trying to relax.

All of the Nejis looked at their newest member. Where Mishi Fujikawa had been, there was now a female monster that represented a humanoid bat. She had dark purple leather like skin, and her hands and nails were very much like Queen Bansheera's. She had two purple bat wings coming out of her back as well as two smaller ones coming out of her head that poked out through her shoulder length dark blue hair. Her face was white-blue and female, but it looked like a demon's when one took into account her red eyes. And she had sharp teeth just like Pink and Yellow, but unlike Pink and Yellow she had vampire fangs as well.

Neji Sofia came over to her, as did Neji Jealousy. "It will take an hour until your body has gotten adjusted to the influx of energies permanently. Once that happens you can assume Neji Ranger form and take on human appearances."

"So until then, when we can call you Neji Purple, what do you want to call yourself in this form? Or do you want us to supply the name." Neji Jealousy asked.

The bat creature looked down at her new form. She felt the power it provided surging within her. Power on par with that when she was a Ranger Guard, if not more so. Power so intoxicating that she relished the rush it provided. And as she looked at the other Neji Rangers she felt a bond form between them develop. A bond of family, and she was being welcomed to it.

A mirror was nearby and the bat creature looked into it. The part of her that was still Mishi Fujikawa looked at her form and while on one hand was repulsed by it, on another hand found it reflected her inner being very well. This was her true form in every way that mattered, and on this day Mishi Fujikawa died, and her true self was born.

"No need. I already have a name for this body…" the female bat replied. With a wide smile that reflected her vampire talons she said the name she would forever be known by.

"…you can call me Neji Envy!"

The Neji Rangers shared Neji Envy's smile and soon all five gathered around their newest member. "Welcome to the ranks of the Neji Rangers. Neji Envy." Neji Sofia smiled.

Finally Kincaid made his way back to the shootfighting rink to tell Sharon that he was ready to leave. "Sharon I..." He broke off his sentence when he saw the sight before him.

On the ground were Sharon's clothes. Her bomber jacket, t-shirt, jeans and boots were all laid out on the floor as were Mackenzie's clothes which consisted of a white t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. Standing in the room was a young woman in a white dress that just went below her calfs. Her legs were adorned with white nylons as her skin glowed with a touch of radiance. She also wore white pumps that looked polished only today. Her brown/blonde hair had touches of red in it now and her eyes seemed to have an intense, yet gentle, shade of blue.

Kincaid was clearly staring at the body of Sharon Lanrydan but he could tell that the spirit of Mackenzie Dekalb was part of her right now. Especially with all the white Sharon seemed to be wearing. The white was Mackenzie's signature color. "Mackenzie?" Kincaid asked.

"Yes Jeff." Sharon seemed to say using Mackenzie's voice. "I'm here." Then as if in unison Sharon and Mackenzie's voices spoke. "We both are."

"How?" Kincaid asked. The Sharon/Mackenzie fusion then answered. "Mackenzie made the offer. Sharon said that she never knew what love was like growing up. The only love she knew was that her parents gave, both real and adopted. She never knew what the love was like between a man and a woman and she wanted to find out."

As Kincaid listened to Sharon/Mackenzie speak he heard their voices come together in a sort of merging of their own. "Don't worry. We will be able to separate when the time comes, but for right now Sharon needs us. She longs to know what love is and we can teach her, and this way you can remain faithful to Mackenzie. And besides in your own way you love Sharon too."

"I…love her?" Kincaid asked confused, especially since Mackenzie was the one with his heart.

"In the only way you know how." Sharon/Mackenzie answered shooting down any confusion. "You love Sharon as someone interesting and want to get to know just as she loves you in the same way, yet you both also know nothing lasting can come between the two of you. Not like it can between you and Mackenzie. Sharon and Mackenzie both know this as do you." Sharon/Mackenzie then walked up to Kincaid and put her hand on his cheek affectionately.

"As part of this being Sharon knows the love Mackenzie feels for you and you for her. And Mackenzie knows the bond between you and Sharon that was apparent when you met in that other world. Sharon wishes to be part of that. She wants to share in the love you and Mackenzie have. That is why they merged together for now. She wants to know what she never had a chance to know. Please help her. Show her what love is." She then paused and said "And get that annoying fantasy of being with you out of Sharon's head."

"A fantasy?" Kincaid asked clearly amused.

"Don't ask. Besides, this way you get to stay faithful to Mackenzie, which is something you very much want to do, and help Sharon. So what's it gonna be boy? Yes or no?"

Kincaid heard Sharon/Mackenzie's words and took her hand into his own. "I will." Then a smile spread across his face and he added "But if you think this is going to be a roll in the hay you are wrong." Sharon/Mackenzie wondered what Kincaid was talking about then she got a flash in her mind as to what Kincaid was thinking, and she liked it.

Grabbing Sharon's bomber jacket Sharon/Mackenzie put on the jacket and left on Kincaid's arm as they headed out of the rink to have a night Sharon Lanrydan would treasure for the rest of her life.

Sure enough the night was one Sharon would remember forever. As part of Sharon/Mackenzie she and Kincaid took a ride up to Sandusky to where Cedar Point amusement park was. The ride wasn't too bad there and they arrived just before the sun would go down. The park would close at ten, so they did everything they could in the time allowed.

They waited together in the line for Millennium Force and finally were able to ride it together. Sharon/Mackenzie felt so alive after riding a roller coaster for the first time. Kincaid however thought he was going to toss his cookies, fortunately he didn't. They also rode on the carousel together holding hands like an old married couple still in love, They also did an assortment of other activities like playing games on the Midway, walking along the beach nearby, they even went into the water park together after Sharon/Mackenzie changed her dress into a white bikini. Kincaid however brought out trunks and a towel he had brought with him.

They went on water slides, rode the raft together, and after the shower had a romantic dinner at the restaurant which was on Lake Erie. The Sharon aspect of Sharon/Mackenzie was amazed by what she was experiencing while the Mackenzie aspect felt that Kincaid was being very romantic. And when the park finally closed Kincaid took Sharon/Mackenzie in his arms and they watched the closing ceremony of a fireworks show fill the night sky.

"Wow, I've never seen anything like this before." Sharon/Mackenzie said. Kincaid knew it was the Sharon aspect talking since Mackenzie had seen several with Kincaid and his friends.

"Remember it. It's something to treasure. Like love." Kincaid then looked into Sharon/Mackenzie's eyes and they knew Kincaid would treasure the love he had for Mackenzie, just as Kincaid would treasure Sharon as someone near and dear to him as well. Soon they made their way back to the rink where they adjourned to Kincaid and Mackenzie's bedroom.

"So did you have a good night?" Kincaid asked.

"Almost." Sharon/Mackenzie answered. "There's only one thing left that would make this night perfect." Kincaid raised an eyebrow as if getting what Sharon/Mackenzie was thinking. "Are you sure?"

"Mackenzie agrees with this. And Sharon wants this too." Sharon/Mackenzie said. "Please…give the girl her fantasy, and give your wife a proper 'welcome home' all at the same time." She then parted her lips and closed her eyes as if waiting for Kincaid to make the next move. He stared at the woman before him, a fusion of the woman he loved and a woman who held his interest and couldn't resist the pull both were giving on him. He gave in and brought his mouth onto hers as Kincaid delivered a soft kiss to Sharon/Mackenzie which grew in intensity.

Oh god. I think I'm in heaven. the Sharon aspect thought. The Mackenzie aspect was happy just to be in Jeff's arms again as Jeff and Sharon/Mackenzie continued to kiss then escalate the kissing to what people do behind closed doors.

Much later Kincaid and Sharon/Mackenzie lay together beneath the covers as Sharon/Mackenzie woke up. As she opened her eyes Sharon/Mackenzie gave off a glow indicating that the fusion was wearing off, and Sharon rose from the light leaving Mackenzie in Kincaid's arms. Soon both Mackenzie and Kincaid were awake and looking up at Sharon who was gathering up her clothes off the floor.

"Thank you, both of you, for letting me be a part of the love you feel for each other. I will always treasure it." Kincaid and Mackenzie nodded as if accepting Sharon's thanks. Mackenzie then turned and looked into Kincaid's eyes and said "I guess you really missed me huh?"

"I love you Mackenzie." Kincaid said. "You will always be the one I come back to. You're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. And to have my children with." Kincaid then put his hands on Mackenzie's stomach trying to feel the baby. He felt something move and it brought a smile to Kincaid's face.

"She's okay." Kincaid said happy for the child Mackenzie was carrying. Mackenzie returned the smile as she knew that hers and Kincaid's child was going to be okay. Sharon then decided that it might be a good idea for her to leave the two alone and get dressed. Finding a bathroom Sharon ducked inside and moved to put on her clothes.

As she put her jeans and t-shirt on she reflected on her memories to see if they were all there. Sharon remembered her parents, her foster family, the demons attacking, yet something else. Sharon could almost have sworn that she remembered someone else that she knew was a mother to her, as well as a father who was more a drunken deadbeat than anything. She remembered a dream of being a cheerleader, a dream Sharon knew she never had. Then she realized that a part of Mackenzie's memories were still a part of her.

I wonder if Mackenzie has any of my memories Sharon asked herself as she got out of the bathroom dressed. Moving down the stairs she came across Boiling Hot who was trying to get the booking for matches straight over the phone.

"No Christine Babylon was supposed to go to Cleveland while Clara Clearasil was supposed to go to the Nationwide center in Columbus. Geez what kind of service are you running?" Boiling Hot was almost completely frantic when he then cast a look in Sharon's direction and he asked her "What? What do you want?"

Sharon then stared at Boiling Hot. He looked high strung and overworked, and in desperate need of a break. She looked at the rink worker and suddenly knew the exact words to say.

"Boiling Hot. You're fired."

Sharon left the office leaving Boiling Hot sitting at the desk for five minutes. After that he was back on the phone handling the bookings. Sharon stood watching.

"Five minutes. That's a new record." Cassandra said coming up to Sharon's side.

"I guess." Sharon said. "Doesn't he ever relax?"

"Only when someone says he's fired." Cassandra answered back. "So you ready to split?"

"In a bit." Sharon said. "I think Kincaid and Mackenzie want to be alone for a while."

Cassandra nodded in understanding. "So did you have a good night?" Sharon looked at Cassandra and wondered how she would know. "Telepathy, I felt you and Mackenzie's presence's in that one body."

Sharon then nodded in understanding. "It's something I'll always treasure. And I think Mackenzie and I retain a part of each other in the deal as well."

"That's usually how mind mergings work. A piece of one can remain in the mind of another." Cassandra then decided to change the subject. "So, is it bad?"

"The threat is." Sharon answered. "So far we're winning. If you can count getting one Matrix that you know of winning."

"Matrix?" Cassandra asked confused. "Long story." Sharon answered. "But we need six if we're going to achieve victory."

Cassandra placed her hand on Sharon's shoulder affectionately. "My hopes and prayers are with you."

"Thank you I think we're going to need them." Sharon and Cassandra then left the rink for a while leaving Boiling Hot in a mess of phone calls, and Kincaid and Mackenzie together...to get reaquainted.

"So what do you think you'll do now until Kincaid's ready to leave?" Cassandra asked.

Sharon was about to say she didn't know but then she saw Justin with the other Turbos by their Turbo Vehicles getting ready to leave. "Justin! Justin wait a moment!" she shouted running over to him. He had turned around and then Sharon asked "Do you know where I can find your Andros, Ashley, and if they are still alive-Ashley's parents?"

At the Hammond residence in Angel Grove Ashley Hammond sat on the porch as she looked up at the sky, her husband Andros walked up to her to see what she was up to, only to know right away who was on Ashley's mind.

"You're thinking about Alison aren't you?" Andros asked. "I don't need to be telepathic to figure that one out."

Ashley turned to look at her husband by her side and gave a small smile. "Am I that transparent?"

"Only to me." Andros answered giving a smile of his own. He then knelt by his wife's side and offered his consolement. "It seems odd doesn't it? You find out you have a sister after all these years. Then suddenly she has to go on some sort of Interdimensional mission before you get the chance to know her better."

Ashley nodded her head and sighed. "I don't know how I can explain it Andros. I know she's alive somehow. In my heart I can sense that she's all right. But I don't know for sure what's happening with her. What she's doing. Who she's fighting. I really wish I could be there with her."

"You are Ash. In spirit. Just as she is with you in spirit right now." Ash was about to smile when she saw a look in Andros's eyes and wondered if there wasn't a little something else that he left out. He then began to explain.

"It's been said that twins have a special connection with each other. That they have a link with each other that no one else can compare with. I think you and Alison have just reawakened yours." Ashley seemed in awe by this. "So you're saying I can sense Alison's feelings at times, and she can sense mine?"

"That's how it is sometimes." Andros answered back. "And when Alison does return, don't be surprised if you find yourselves completing each other's sentences as well."

"Andros did you just tell a joke?" Ashley asked with a sense of whim. Andros was about to answer when Alyssa Hammond walked on to the back porch. "Mom what's up?"

Alyssa paused for a moment before speaking. "Ashley, you and Andros have a visitor."

"Who is it?" Andros asked.

"I think you'd better see for yourself." Alyssa then stepped aside allowing the guest to walk onto the back porch. That guest was none other than Sharon Lanrydan.

Sharon looked at both Ashley and Andros who looked just stunned as they saw the girl before them. Right away they both saw similarities themselves and each other in the girl before them. "Who are you?" Ashley asked weakly afraid she'd know what the answer would be.

"I'm…Sharon. I…know your sister." Was all Sharon said sensing that information about Alison was what her 'mother' needed right now.

"You've seen Alison?" Ashley asked right away. " How is she?"

"She's fine." Sharon answered. "We fought together in a battle recently. We won by the way."

"We're glad to hear that." Andros said. "Does that mean Alison will be coming home soon?"

"We hope so. There still is a lot to do before we can end this war my au… that Alison and everyone is in so we can all go home ."

"We hope she can come home soon." Andros answered. "As well as the other Night Rangers too."

"We're going to do all we can to make sure that happens." Sharon answered. "As well as everyone else that's fighting with them."

"There are others?" Ashley asked.

"Yes, almost an army. Which if you ask me we need, because the villains we're facing are real bad news. But Alison can handle it, I know she can."

"So do I." Ashley answered. "She's a Hammond. Hammonds are tough." Ashley then gave Sharon a smile and Sharon wondered briefly if Ashley knew that she was her daughter from another reality. She then decided not to think about it and just said "Yes they are."

"Do you have someplace to be right now?" Andros asked. "Or can you stay for a while?"

Sharon seemed taken aback by the request. Is my father asking me to stay for a while? Does he know? She struggled to find an answer. More than anything she wanted to stay with her mother, father and grandparents that she never knew. But in her mind she knew that the Ashley and Andros before her were not truly the parents she had known. They were alternate versions of them. But even that was enough to shake her resolve.

"Uhhhh no I must be going. I can only stay for a little while and I have to get back to the others quickly." Sharon answered.

"I understand." Andros said. "Your priority must be towards your comrades." Sharon nodded and went to shake both their hands.

"It's an honor to meet you." Sharon said as she took Ashley's hands into her own. Sharon and Ashley looked into each other's eyes and a moment of connection seemed to occur between the two. Ashley seemed to know that Sharon was an alternate reality version of her daughter that may or may not be born in the reality they were in now. As Sharon looked at Andros she felt her resolve finally break, and the tears fell down her face.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Sharon said finally breaking into tears and went to hug both Ashley and Andros, who both returned the hug. "I've missed you so much."

Both Andros and Ashley didn't know what to say right now but somehow instinct seemed to take over. "It's all right sweetheart. It's all right." She said.

Sharon continued to hug her 'parents' as she heard Ashley call her 'sweetheart'. It had been to long since she heard her mother call her that. And even though the Ashley Hammond before her wasn't her mother she was good enough. Sharon then got back up and collected herself as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'd better go."

"No please stay." Andros asked. "We'd really like you to."

Sharon couldn't say no to that. "Thank you. I'd like that."

In the Hammond living room Ashley, Andros, Gerald and Alyssa Hammond sat with Sharon who told the story about her world and the life she led. To say that they were surprised by what happened was an understatement.

"You're saying the demons the Lightspeed Rangers are facing conquered your reality and killed all the Rangers?" Andros asked with disbelief.

"And their families too." Sharon answered. "Empress Bansheera wanted no one from the Ranger's bloodlines to threaten her in anyway."

"And the only reason you survived was because you went through a time vortex and came to a demon controlled Earth years later?" Ashley asked. Again Sharon nodded.

"I had a lot of hope put into me since I was the last survivor to a Ranger bloodline. I trained with the human resistance and then with the Nomad Star Tribe in order to become the Demon Hunter in order to fight back. Then I decided to go back in time and try to stop the Demon's takeover from happening." Sharon then explained.

"Sounds like a tall order." Alyssa said. Sharon couldn't help but agree.

"But I have to succeed." Sharon said back. "If I don't then the nightmare will just happen again."

"It's not going to happen here is it?" George then asked concerned about his family and future.

"No I checked. The event with the Cyborg Rangers didn't happen like it did in my world. So my future isn't going to happen here." George sighed with relief after hearing Sharon speak.

"So does that mean my first child will be a girl?" Ashley then asked.

"Don't look at me." Sharon said with a smile. "Just because I was born in another reality doesn't mean I'll be born in this one."

"She does have a point Ash." Andros said. "While there may be similarities in many realities, there are also great differences as well. Sharon may be born here, but then again she may not."

"And it's not like you two have to make a version of me right now." Sharon said. "I have a feeling nature will take care of everything that is supposed to happen."

Ashley then let out a small smile. "You are a real smart girl. Who told you that?"

Sharon returned the smile and then said with great affection "My parents."

Soon it was time for Sharon to leave. After saying her goodbyes Sharon then made her way back to the Shootfighting rink where Kincaid was. "Thank you…for everything." Sharon said affectionately. Then she teleported out to meet with Kincaid.

Ashley and Andros looked at the spot where Sharon had stood, and wondered what the future would hold. They were not sure, but they could sense that Ashley and Andros Hammond had a bright future ahead of them.

A future with kids in it.

Ashley and Andros couldn't wait.

The hour had passed and Neji Envy was well settled into her new body.

But there were times she missed her human form, and she decided that for her first trick that she would try to revert back to what she used to look like. Neji Envy had transformed back into Mishi Fujikawa then looked at her image in the mirror.

As Mishi studied herself, she looked as if all her human characteristics had been highlighted. Her skin seemed so much more radiant and alive. Her hair looked silky and flowed smoothly, and her figure looked absolutely perfect. Her wardrobe consisted of a purple jacket with black highlights, black shorts that looked skintight which showed off her legs, and black shoes that came just to her ankles.

"Well, I guess one really can improve on perfection." Mishi said as she studied herself. "Not that I'm being vain or anything."

"No, you were just sadistic weren't you?" a voice said off to the side. Mishi turned to see who it was and saw a monstrous face appear in the doorway. And while the face was different Mishi knew right away who the person was.

"Well well well." Mishi said walking towards the person in the doorway. "If it isn't my old Ranger Guard 'teammate' Robert Harper. You've certainly changed."

"So have you Mishi. You're now a member of that group we just recruited, the Neji Rangers?" Mishi smiled then magically transformed into her Neji Purple uniform. "A welcome change I'll tell you." She added.

"Not very promising though." Harper said. "They couldn't beat Kincaid could they?"

"And you could?" Neji Purple remarked. Harper caught the smart alec tone in the voice of Neji Purple and was clearly annoyed.

"Of course I could! I mean I beat him before! I'm superior to him in every way! He should be looking up at me realizing that I am better than him. Always have been and always will be." Neji Purple listened to Harper rant and sighed as she finally realized how obsessed Harper had become with Kincaid. Then finally Neji Purple decided to give Harper her two cents by forcibly throwing him into the wall and glaring at him through the visor. When Neji Purple realized that she had Harper's full attention she said her peace.

"I don't think I realized what a sick puppy you are until right now. You talk about beating Kincaid? The only time you 'beat' him was when he was in school and you were a bully looking for someone who couldn't fight back. And when you met up with him again, you tried to break him and humiliate him instead of kill him, because you couldn't see what he had become, and what he had become was someone dangerous. When you finally realized it he beat you soundly, and now you can't realize that one of your own victims fought back against you and beat you. One of your victims fought back AND YOU LOST! Since then you've become obsessed with humbling him, and each time YOU'VE FAILED! Even when there were two of him YOU FAILED! And now you carry on like a raving lunatic with 'Kincaid this' and 'Kincaid that'. Even if you have all the power of the universe, you'll never beat Kincaid. He's not the little boy you pushed around in school anymore. You don't realize that, and you need to!" Neji Purple drove her last point home glaring at Harper and knowing that Harper was paying complete attention.

"You've really fallen Harper." Neji Purple said to her old 'friend.' "You know what…I'm glad the Ranger Guard fell. Cause if it hadn't, I'd still be taking orders from you…and I could become you." She mentally added Like I wasn't almost there already before I got Nejized…but the sociopath doesn't have to know that.

Neji Purple spun on her heel and walked away releasing Harper from the wall. Harper raised his fist as he was about to blast her from behind, with 'about' being the key word. Because before he could Neji Red struck Harper from behind, and in a matter of two seconds Neji Red had Harper against the wall again, only harder, and Harper was unable to move.

Neji Red stared straight at Harper as if his eyes were like daggers. "You touch her and I'll save Kincaid the trouble of killing you."

Harper just laughed. "Kincaid can't defeat me. He's a loser. He can't…"

Neji Red then hit Harper in the head. Before Harper could do anything Neji Red then kicked him where the sun doesn't shine before continuing to speak. "Listen to yourself you raving lunatic! You've fought Jeffrey Kincaid over and over again and you lose every time. And why? It's because of your blinding obsession with him! The closest you ever got to killing him was back when you were leader of the Ranger Guard. You had your chance to kill him. Any sane person would have done it knowing what Kincaid was capable of. But you didn't! And you can't handle the fact that because of your choice, you lost everything!"

Neji Red then sneered at Harper. "You know, it's kind of a poetic irony as I think about it, if it wasn't for you, perhaps the Luciferian Empire would have won in the end. But it didn't now. Did it?" Neji Red then threw Harper down on the ground and hit him a few more times before saying his final peace.

"You can never defeat Kincaid…and you never will Harper. Get it through your head." Neji Red then turned around but then pulled out his Neji Sabre and had it at Harper's throat before he could pull out his own weapon. "And the next time you try to attack any of my team or the Empress's people, you will find my sword buried in whatever it is that you have in place of a heart."

With that Neji Red left Harper completely on the ground and walked away completely unharmed. Harper however was completely seething.

How dare they disrespect me like this! I am Imperator Harper! I am better than Kincaid can ever be! I AM BETTER THAT HIM! Once again Harper focused all his attention on Kincaid. As if Kincaid was the source of all his pain, and all his woe. Everything centered around Kincaid for Harper, and Harper genuinely believed that when he had defeated and humbled Kincaid then all would be well with him again.

Kincaid will pay for this. Kincaid will pay for this! he thought over and over again. He will know his place! And then everyone will look at me with respect again. All I have to do is make sure he knows his place!

And right away he had the perfect plan in mind to do just that as if a wave of dark inspiration had hit his obsession clouded mind. Harper smiled as he though of his idea, and Jeffrey Kincaid, humbled at last with Robert Harper standing as his superior finally. Yes Neji Red. Kincaid will finally know his place, and after that so will you!

The next morning Kincaid was saying his goodbyes. As he faced Steven, Kincaid gave him a brotherly hug as he told him to look after Mackenzie. "Don't worry about it. You just get back quick you hear?"

Kincaid nodded as he turned to see Sharon, who recently returned from the Hammonds, talking with Cassandra and Mackenzie. Walking over he caught the tailend of the conversation. "You've got a good man." Sharon said to Mackenzie.

"Yeah, but I feel like a wife who watches her husband go to war while she's left at home with the kids. I wish Jeff could stay."

"So does he Mickey." Cassandra said. "But he needs to stop whoever is threatening the realities. And the other Nightfighters need to be here in case they fail."

"Cassandra has a point." Sharon said. "In my dimension my home was overrun, and all the Rangers there were killed. I'd hate for that to happen here."

"It won't." Adam said coming to Cassandra's side. "We won't let it." Sharon smiled and turned to see Kincaid standing behind her. "Ready to go?" he asked.

"Just need to speak to Mackenzie." Sharon said. Kincaid nodded and left the two women alone. Mackenzie then placed a device in her hands and Sharon wondered what it was. "It's a body mask. It allows you to morph into any person it scans. It's a gift that may help you on your mission."

Sharon was speechless until Mackenzie placed a hand on her shoulder. "We each carry a part of the other with us. I wish you success on your mission. And take care of Jeff. I want to see him come home in one piece." Sharon and Mackenzie hugged goodbye then went up to Kincaid's side. "All set?" she asked.

"Just one last goodbye to say." Kincaid said. Then he turned to face Justin who was packed to go on a trip of his own. "Searching for the new Turbos?" Kincaid asked.

Justin was quick to answer. "Yeah. We've already got the Pink, Yellow, and Green Turbo Rangers. We also got Zordon somewhat back. He's an AI program now."

Kincaid rolled his eyes back. "I guess Zordon went all out in keeping his legacy alive. First his book, now his A.I.?"

"Talk about dedicated." Sharon interrupted. "I wish Zordon had some sort of legacy to leave, but the Empress made sure all reference to anything related to Zordon was purged from our history. We don't have many leaders now."

Kincaid followed up. "Which is why you need to get the Turbo Rangers to full strength as soon as you can. The more defenses our reality has the harder it would be for any interdimensional evil to overrun us."

Justin nodded in agreement. "Well we've got a good idea on where Red Turbo could be. We leave tomorrow."

"Good. Take care of yourself." Justin and Kincaid shook hands and then Kincaid made his way to his Harley. Sharon was already by her motorcycle ready to ride.

Then suddenly Kincaid turned around and swept Mackenzie into his arms and twirled her around. "Jeff what are you doing?" she squealed with laughter until Kincaid brought her down and kissed her softly. Kincaid then looked deep into her eyes and said "I'm coming back."

"I'll be waiting for you." she said and Mackenzie then gave a goodbye hug to her boyfriend, not wanting to let go but knowing that she had to. Kincaid then looked at Cassandra and Steven and said "Take care of her okay?"

"Don't worry we will." Cassandra said. Kincaid then got on his Harley and started his engine. Sharon started hers shortly after that, and soon both riders were on the road.

"That's some family you've got Kincaid." Sharon said as she rode.

Kincaid nodded and said "Yeah they are." as he activated the Nexus Crystal portal allowing Kincaid and Sharon to go through. Back at the rink Steven, Cassandra, Adam, Justin and Mackenzie watched the portal dissipate signifying that Kincaid was gone.

"Well there he goes." Justin said. Adam rested his hand on his shoulder reassuringly and said, "Don't worry. He'll make it back."

"Yeah, he will." Mackenzie said with confidence. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go inside and see if Boiling Hot changed all the receipts on me."

"Not so fast." Steven said. "You've got Lamaze classes to look for." Mackenzie looked wide eyed at Steven's directness with his statement, but the elder Kincaid wasn't finished yet.

"And what about your family physician, don't you have him?" Steven continued to tell Mackenzie what needed to be done during her pregnancy, much to the amusement of Cassandra, Adam and Justin.

"Definitely going to be an interesting six months." Cassandra said. Justin and Adam smiled in agreement, then Justin looked at his watch.

"I better get going." he said. "Sylvie, Ivana, and Marco may have found the Red Turbo Ranger. I need to meet up with them."

"All right. Take care Justin." Adam said. Then he watched the Blue Ranger leave leaving Cassandra and him alone. "So what's going to happen?" she asked her longtime boyfriend.

Adam kept his jaw even. "I don't know. But I hope Kincaid is prepared for it."

END OF PART 19
KINCAID'S ADVENTURE CONTINUES IN I.D.WAR