A little over a year after the first part was uploaded, and just over eight months since the second one, this is finally the third and last chapter chapter of "Ghosts Through the Prism".

Please, please, please review. This was a very - well, emotionally exhausting, and ambitious story to write. I'd really, really appreciate feedback on it, whether or not you think it stands up to what I tried to achieve, or not.

Huge thanks go out to Roie -friend, beta reader and hopefully soon-to-be co-author. He made my life hell over this story, as a good beta should, and he'd been there for the insane brainstorming, too.

Thanks also go to Mara Aoife, who's been sticking with this story for a long while now, and whose reviews let me know that there's at least one reader who genuinly care about this story and the characters.

Now, this A/N is way too long. Let's get to the story.

Ghosts Through the Prism

Follow up to the Shadow Line trilogy

Part 3: the Ghosts through the Prism

Triforia, the Royal Palace, early morning

Some days you know are going to be trouble right from the start. Other days start out normal enough: wake up, go out for a jog, ditch bodyguards, return 15 minutes after schedule and grin at the personal aid who's doing a damn good job of hiding her smile. I grab a towel and say: "Don't even go there, Lysie"

"Wasn't going to". She stands there with her arms crossed across her chest and looking grim. "Don't need to, either"

I put down the towel and reach for the water glass. "Oh? And why not?"

"Because your schedule is going to be totally rewritten within ten minutes after I tell you that Hurán called"

Sputtering is one of those things that can't be done in a dignified manner; that's why royalty and other nobility aren't supposed to sputter; never stopped me, though. "Hurán called? What did he want? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Yes, he called; you know he never tells me; and I just did" she ticks off the answers on her fingers as we move over to the comm panel, and I hit in the codes. Hurán's online in seconds – whatever it is, it's urgent; then again, when was it ever not urgent?

"Dimitria is on her way to Netherie as we speak. Karone was suppose to handle this but she's disappeared and it probably won't be a good idea to let Melissa break the news to Dimitria, considering how much those two love and respect each other". You mean that as they're political rivals, and there's also the little issue of them hating each other, there's no point creating an interplanetary crisis if we can do without one. Hey, wait a second: "What news?"

"That Divatox is Dimitria's sister"

Lysie gasps in the background. I try not to stare too hard. "You're not kidding, are you"

"Well, we don't have any of Dimitria's genetic material yet as she's only expected here in four hours, but we do have Divatox held on Netherie, and she's most definitely an Inquirian and she's the spitting image of that righteous witch"

I'm so going on a hunting trip when this is over. A week-long hunting trip and Triforia can go to hell in my absence. Speaking of absences… "Where did you say Karone is?"

"She disappeared several hours ago. The Astro Rangers don't know where she went"

"Not even Andros?"

"Andros disappeared over twelve hours ago"

Don't curse, darling. It'll only serve to gaud Hurán into proving that he can outmatch you, and you know he can. "What happened?"

"Self esteem issues"

Trust Hurán to make that sound like Andros caught leprosy. "What's Karone's excuse?"

"It has to do with Shiera"

"What did Shiera do?"

"Went missing"

Scratch leprosy, this is the plague. "Zhane?"

"Hiding under a bed if he has any sense whatsoever"

"Why would he…" That's when I really catch on to what Hurán just asked me to do. "You want me to talk to Dimitria, don't you"

"It will be a disaster if Melissa does it, Karone is missing and the rest of the family – including I – rank well below Dimitira. You're the only planetary leader I have on speed dial"

"Does Melissa know?"

"What part of it?"

"Uh, anything?"

"Nothing. She's got her work and that's enough"

Yeah, detoxifying a planet and staying sane is two full-time jobs. Melissa has enough trouble without a posh Inquirian and her just-as-indomitable sister. You're a sly old bastard, Hurán, and we both know it. "Expect me in three hours' time. See you then"

"Thanks, Täna"

"Don't mention it"

When I turn around, Lys is already issuing orders over her palm unit. She notices me and gives me a thumbs-up. I go to the shower: she's got it, and I can get rid of the sweat.

Fifteen minutes later she unceremoniously dumps a pile of clean clothes on the bathroom stool. "Nerü is setting the ship, Rhi is apologizing to the cabinet and the senate, and I almost finished your packing"

"I'll be ready in ten minutes"

"Neiscer and Trey will be here in fifteen, so you'd better"

"Why'd you invite them together?"

"Do you want to be at Netherie in three hours' time, or not?"

"You and Trey can talk to Neiscer"

"I'm coming with you"

"No, you're not"

"Yes, I am, Littäneviel. Today you're going as the monarch of Triforia, and you'd better look and act the part if you want to make it through the day without the situation exploding in your face. I brought you something decent. You'll wear that for breakfast – and stop messing with your hair – I'll set you properly on the way. Why are you still in your towel?"

"You know", I say as I pull the shirt over my head. "None of my previous aids talked to me like that. They were nice, proper young nobles who knew their place in the world"

"That's why you kicked them all out in under three weeks"

Matika, Atare Ranch, around noon

She was afraid that he'd gone away, but he was sitting at Aaji's bench. He did not turn his head, but he must have heard her, because he said: "Please go away".

"I'm not going anywhere", she told him, coming over and sitting down next to him. "Not after this long chase you put me through"

"You chased a fantasy. We never knew each other. Whatever you may have imagined, it is probably nothing like reality"

"I never imagined anything". It seemed so strange when she said it out loud, but in her head it made perfect sense. "I always felt as if a fantasy – any fantasy – would be disloyalty to the real you"

"Everyone has fantasies, Cassie"

"What did you imagine?"

"What did you?"

For a few minutes they set in silence. Then, very quietly he said, almost to himself: "I dreamed of you singing. I would wake up at night, certain that I heard you sing. It was just a dream"

"It wasn't", she told him, almost as quietly, turning to him though she knew he could not see that. "I do sing, and there were many times I sang and thought of you. Maybe you heard that"

He said nothing.

"I dreamed of an endless sea of stars, and one planet floating below me. Then there would be a great flash of light, and the view would fade into darkness. I dreamed that, over and over"

His head snapped in her direction, and their faces were so close that it was almost painful. Cassie's heart constricted as she realized, again, that he could not see her, could not read her expression. "You saw that?" he asked, his voice filled with pain and hope.

"I dreamed it several times"

"Even when all other memories fade, that I can still see", he told her, voice still thick with emotion. "But how could you know?"

"Because we are meant to be"

"We know nothing of each other. How can you be so certain?"

"Because you heard me sing for you in the night; because I shared your one memory that would not leave you in peace; because we both knew that, from the first time we met. And you're wrong, we do know each other: we know those things that really matter". She took his right hand. He recoiled, and she waited until he semi-relaxed before putting it against her cheek. "I don't mind that you can't see. It doesn't matter, Kenshin, it doesn't matter to me. I loved you before I ever saw you"

Carefully his fingers brushed against her face, moving and exploring her features: cheekbones, ears, forehead, eyebrows, lashes, nose, lips and chin. "I am afraid, Cassie", he said finally. "I lost too many: of everyone I ever loved, only Anarad and Aaji are still alive"

"There is a saying on Earth: better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all"

"You have never loved and lost, Cassie. You don't know what you're speaking of"

She knew that what she was going to say was plain unfair, but she just had to make him see. "Would you rather that I knew?"

"What? No, never…"

"So don't turn me away"

He was quiet for what seemed like eternity. His hand never left her face, and she did not dare to move.

"We do live half across the galaxy from each other"

She wanted to cry; she wanted to laugh; she didn't know if to punch him or kiss him. "I'd say that after everything we've been through, this is really no big a deal. Do you have any other excuses?"

"I seem to have run out of them", he admitted wryly. "Why did I have to fall in love with a girl so stubborn?"

"Because", she answered firmly, and then she really did cry as ever so slowly, his lips curved into a smile.

Temple of Power

Karone walked briskly into the room. Determination, and not composure, lent her the strength not to look back as the two great doors closed behind her. She knew, at some level, that her decisiveness came from not thinking her actions too much; had she bothered to think through, she would've probably felt apprehensive or somewhat worried. After all, she was barging into the territory of one of the least-nice, more potentially harmful beings currently alive, with a claim that was probably going to get her her head bitten off. The same level of herself that realized all this also kept it out of her direct consciousness, because the only way she could pull this off and succeed would be by sheer self-assurance.

She stopped at the middle of the room and turned around slowly, eyes narrowing as she seemed to consider her surroundings. "Come out, come out, wherever you are", she whispered softly, as if to herself. It wasn't a game and it was a game; it had stringent rules, but it was deadly serious. Her moment of humor might come at a price. Aloud, she called: "Ninjor, I need your help!"

No answer.

"Ninjor, great guardian of the Temple of Power, I need your help!"

Again there was no answer.

"Ninjor, great guardian of the Temple of Power, forger of the Power coins of old, I need your help!"

"Who is calling?" demanded a voice. It echoed off the walls, and so its source could not be pinpointed.

"I, Karone of Kerova"

"Why should I help you, Karone of Kerova?"

"I wish to help a friend. I merely require your advice, nothing more"

"I know of you, Karone of Kerova", said the voice sternly. Blue smoke floated up from the matching-color vase that stood on the table. "Are you not the one who was known as Astronema, princess of evil, who has many evil deeds to her name?"

No point lying. No point trying to put things at a better, false light. As simply as possible, she said: "I am"

"Then how dare you stand here, and ask anything of me?" he roared, and she hardly resisted the impulse to put her hands over her ears.

"Because I wish to help a friend", she said steadily. "Nothing more, nothing less"

"A friend" repeated Ninjor skeptically. He didn't need to say it aloud, she could hear it in the tone of his voice: the princess of evil can have no friends, the taker of lives can care for no one, the conqueror of worlds does not ask for help. But she did come asking for help, and maybe that's why he was even willing to talk to her, because he continued: "Tell me…" Karone tried not to stiffen when he stopped abruptly, but there was no way that that was a good sign. "I saw that before", he said slowly, "or the like of it". She had not idea what he was talking about, but then he raised his right hand, index finger pointing forward directly at her chest, and she felt rather than saw the cold glow against her ribcage. The crystal, she realized. Zordon's crystal.

"But no, my eyes do not deceive me" continued Ninjor, and he no longer sounded hostile – more like bemused, and that had to be an improvement. Maybe he was no closer to helping her, but he was further away from blasting her for cheek. "What are the names of your parents, Karone?"

"Neraya and Ketro"

"Ketro, son of Yilsha, of Netherie?"

She swallowed. "Yes"

Ninjor chuckled. "Well then, the prophecy did state that you would be unexpected. You are here to help a friend, you say?" he still seemed more curious than caring, but curious was still better than bewildered. "Why come here, then? And what plagues this friend? Tell me quick, and maybe I will answer"

"Her name is Shiera. She is a Willer". Karone rubbed her eyes, but she didn't bother telling herself that it was just the dryness of the air that made her eyes sting. She kept a white night waiting on Andros and Zhane; she darted between three planets, what between Hurán and Ashley; She teleported herself all the distance to the Desert of Despair, and has made it through in what she suspected was a record time. She'd been awake and active since forever, it seemed, but tiredness would have to wait. "The power is eating her, slowly but surely. Information on Willers is scarce, as they are rare, but every Willer I read of eventually died of their own power, half of them going insane before it killed them". Never before taking a lot other people with them, she thought distantly. All the Willers she read about went violent, and violent Willers were very efficient killers. "I came here, because you're the Oldest, and have seen the most. If you wouldn't know a way to save her - " before I have to kill her to save the rest of them, before Carlos dies of heartbreak " - no one would" Could Ninjor hear the desperation in her voice? She wondered. Did he understand why she had to find a way to help Shiera?

If he did, he showed nothing of it. "A Willer? Unusual indeed!"

"She's the Rainbow Walker of Oshra's prophecy, if that means anything to you" added Karone, though without much hope; he revealed to her that he knew about the prophecy, but she didn't know how much he knew. If he knew that much, though, it might help – it seemed he was only listening to her because she wore Zordon's crystal, and that had to count for something – even with an arrogant egomaniac like Ninjor.

"Yes, it does", says Ninjor solemnly. "But I cannot help you: I know of no Willers who survived their own power"

Wrong answer, even if she did manage to convince him that her plea was worthy of his help. She refused to believe he knew nothing that would help. There had to be a connection somewhere in his vast experience. She would just have to help him find it. "Shiera's already different than any Willer I read of", she insisted. "She survived for four years, not knowing what she is. She held back on her life, on almost anything that made her a person, but she survived. That defense is broken now. Don't you know a way?" She was pleading. Her tiredness and fatigue were taking their toll on her, and she had tears in her eyes. She didn't bother to blink them away, didn't bother with anything except trying to make Ninjor help her, whether or not he thought he could.

"None that succeeded", he said flatly, but not entirely unsympathetically.

"Tell me anyway. Maybe we could make it work"

Ninjor shook is head. "It is impossible. A Willer is, by definition, self-destructive. Perhaps, if she was a Ranger…"

"But she is", interrupted Karone. Could my mistake be not such a mistake after all? "She's the Green Strike Ranger. I made the morpher, when…" She faltered. She hated to remind him that she was Astronema.

Ninjor's gaze was piercing, even through his opaque visor, and Karone had to work hard not to drop her gaze. "Indeed", he said, and it didn't sound quite like a reprimand. "And the morpher is not bound to evil?"

"It's not". She tried her best to get her balance again, even that she knew it was futile. "It is bound only to me, and perhaps to her"

"How do these bonds express themselves?"

"I can sense her, most of the time. When she's sad, when she's happy, where she is… I can always tell, unless she's blocking me deliberately. Is there a way?" she asked Ninjor again. His voice and posture betrayed nothing like caring, so far, but he was yielding more and more information as she pressed, and what he said before seemed like he knew a way. "Is there a way I can help her?"

"There may be a way", said Ninjor grudgingly. "Once there was an active Ranger who became a Willer, and came seeking my help after he had almost lost his mind to the power. We devised a way, his team and I; but he did not survive, and neither might your Shiera"

Karone laughed. "Don't you think she wants to live? Don't you think she knows the chances? Little hope is better than none"

"And yet it would have to be her choice" said Ninjor, and Karone wanted to laugh again, because she finally knew that he would help; that there was a way; that they could beat history.

"Ninjor…" she shook her head. "If I don't find a way for her, she'll kill herself before anything can go more wrong than it already did"

"Did she tell you that?" asked Ninjor, and were Karone more alert his scrutiny would've put her on guard. As it was, though, she was tired and bitter, and probably very near hysterical, and she answered honestly – which was, altogether, for the best.

"No", she said, "and she probably doesn't know she feels this way. But I know – I just do – and for one reason or the other, I feel responsible"

"Do you feel that you own her?"

"What?" Karone was genuinely startled. "No! Not - " she stopped abruptly, having realized where that one came from. "Never again", she finished quietly. "And it's not that I want to make up for anything, either. It's just – I feel responsible, that's all". It didn't make sense, and she knew it –

"Exactly how much responsible do you feel?" inquired Ninjor. "Because if you really want to give your friend a chance, I'm going to have to take you up on it"

Kerova, Kyota, dusk

Could he pretend that it he was staring east, and not west, and that the sun was rising, and not setting? Could he pretend that Andros had just slipped away to the park, not to a planet so distant that it took over eight hours to get there on a glider? That Karone was asleep upstairs, and not who-knows-where? It could be, couldn't it, that the day was just beginning, that everything could still go right, that they would have a lazy day?

Zhane knew it couldn't be. He knew that he hadn't actually seen Andros since sometime at night, that Karone had left shortly after dawn and he hadn't since her since, either, and that he himself spent the day worrying and feeling depressed; he knew that the only good thing about this day was that nobody died – yet.

Some comfort, a little reprieve: was it too much to ask? Haven't we given enough? He demanded of the universe in his mind. Why is it that the more we give, the more is demanded of us? He knew the answer, of course, the one that Andros or Karone would take for granted – that it was just people, and given a finger they would take the hand. He knew the answer, and he couldn't help but feel bitter about it, because he expected people to be better than that; he expected people to be good, even though he should have known otherwise – even though he knew that the universe made no preference between good and evil.

Losing wasn't something Zhane did; accepting defeat wasn't something he'd ever learned; yet, it only made him more bitter, because he kept expecting things to be better than they actually turned out to be, and he'd never learned to be philosophical about it. Never learned, and never will: he knew that much about himself, and he knew that no matter how much it would hurt, he'd never change – never learn to trust people a little less, to expect a little less, to feel less surprised when life didn't turn out for the best for the ones he loved or for himself.

That made him even more bitter, and for the last few hours he'd been wondering what could drag him out of this black mood that descended on him.

"They're coming back, you know". It was Nita, strangely enough. He expected his mom might try to counsel him, or maybe Kirrie would try to guilt-trip him into the house. Instead, it was Nita who was standing by his shoulder, staring into the sunset as if she's said nothing.

He thought he was beginning to get over the two years he lost. That was before the resettlement of Kyota, before he found his family: before he saw how much Nita and Kirrie grew up. His mom's hair grayed and her face had more lines than they used to; Andros eyes showed his two years of isolation; but of all those Zhane regarded as family, Nita and Kirrie had changed the most in the last two years. Last he'd seen Kirrie she was barely more than an infant and now she was an energetic nine-years-old; Nita and he had always been close – but now she was fifteen, same age he was two years ago, same age he still thought himself. It was staggering – harder to realize than the loss of his father, even.

He was still realizing that loss; his mom and sisters were still realizing that he was alive. It was a huge gap, and they were no closer to sealing it than they were day he walked through the doorstep, and found them already there.

Abruptly, he realized that he hadn't answered Nita yet; and he owed her at least that. "I know they'll come back", he said, "but they still went in the first place. Karone sorts of has an excuse – but Andros…" He trailed off.

"You really love them so much?" asked Nita, and he heard her real question: don't you love us as much? "Andros I can understand – I mean, we practically grew up together, and he's as much Kirrie's and my brother as you are, and mom sure considers him another son. But – I mean – you hardly know Karone. I'm being an idiot, aren't I?"

"If you are, I sure am", he told her. "I didn't tell you I love you, didn't I? I didn't tell you about the times I woke up in the middle of the night and wondered where you were and what you were doing, or how I totally drove Kinwon crazy with asking him nonstop about you and mom and Kirrie even when he told me he knew nothing five times already?"

"Don't apologize", said Nita harshly. "I've been nasty to you, okay?"

"And I was unfair to you", he insisted. "Still am, because - "

"Because you can't be happy right now", she completed. "Damnit, Zhane, that's not betrayal!"

"Can you honestly say that you don't feel betrayed?" he retorted, and despite that he knew what her answer would be, it still stung when she closed her mouth and looked away.

Then she hugged him. "Don't go all big-brother on me", she whispered fiercely. "Don't feel that all you're doing is wrong. Don't – don't try to be what you think we want you or need you to be, because what we really want you to be is you, okay? And that includes everything"

He knew she meant that. She understood something that he didn't, and that gave her the strength to stand there and tell him that she couldn't care less that he seemed to miss Andros or Karone more than he'd missed his blood family, and mean what she said. She honestly meant that.

She was so much his sister that he wanted to cry, and cry he did.

Netherie, Golden Guard camp, evening

"This is Netherie?" Lysie asks, wide-eyed.

"This is Netherie", I agree. It's quite the site, too, if you're into demolition and ruin. "Pretty, isn't it?"

"Looks better than I expected, actually", she admits.

"Yeah, well. The camp looks better than most areas"

"Täna!" Turning aside, we see Hurán walking briskly in our direction. "You arrived at the last minute. Dimitria's entering the system as we speak". He stops, and then he seems to notice Lysie for the first time. "What's she doing here?"

"Making Täna look professional" she shoots back.

I shrug. "She's got a mind of her own"

Hurán is nonplussed, but then again – the only expressions I ever saw him wear are irritation and worry. "Stay out of trouble", he tells her, then turns to me: "She gets out of your sight, you're responsible"

"Got it. What do I need to know before Dimitria gets here?"

Hurán checks the time. "She'll finish procedure any minute now. Control will direct her to a teleport site just outside the camp – we'd better start walking"

"What do I need to know?" I prompt again as we're walking.

"You know we've been trying to hunt down Dark Specter's generals since his defeat a month ago. Well, the Blue Senturions had a great time grinding the royals of the Machine Empire into scrape metal, Rita and Zed escaped to M-51 so they're out of reach for a while, and that left us with Divatox and the rest of the pirate clans, which we've been slowly mopping up"

The pirate clans were reduced to half their original population in a month. Only Hurán would call it "slow".

"About a week ago, Andros retrieved some information concerning a possible pirate hideout near Yesheksh prime"

Judging by Hurán's sour tone, this would translate as "Andros infiltrated somewhere highly dangerous just to prove he can, and brought back a rumor to prove he was there". Andros has got to be suicidal – either he'll be killed on one of those ridiculously dangerous missions he assigns himself, or Hurán will kill him for worrying his sister like that. Red Ranger or not, Andros could use a good slap upside the head; but I'm not going to claim responsibility for him, too.

Hurán continues. "Yesterday, he and Zhane went to investigate. They returned with Divatox"

"Woke you up in the middle of the night?" I guess.

"One in the morning, actually. I ran her through the standard medicals, and she turned out Inquirian. Wiped her makeup off, and she looks just like Dimitria". He stops walking. "We're there"

"There" would be the teleportation point – which is just an empty spot in a dead field, as could be expected.

"Why would Dimitria's sister be raised as a space pirate?" asks Lysie.

Hurán gives her a withering glance. "If anything happened to Dimitria, it would've put Divatox in a very comfortable place – from Dark Specter's point of view"

"And it has the potential of becoming one hell of a diplomatic crisis", I add. "Remind Karone that she owes me a favor, okay?"

"Will do"

"Does Dimitria know why she's here?"

"Not really"

"What excuse did Karone use?"

"That she requires Dimitria's counsel on a sensitive matter. Which is technically true"

A white ray shoots from the sky, and splashes unto the ground. Split-second later Dimitria stands before us, in her eternal white gown.

Hyperspace

Cassie rubbed her eyes tiredly, but it didn't help. They were still burning terribly. Tiredness and crying would do that, she thought wryly. What a day. She would've stayed longer at Matika – at Kenshin's – but she had to get Shiera to Karone. She glanced backwards. Shiera had been asleep and stable since they left Matika, and should stay like that until they reached home.

Cassie frowned. The original plan was to return to Eltar then head home to Earth. That plan was scrapped for obvious reasons. Cassie had been out of touch since she left Eltar, though – she needed information before she could plot a new course.

The light on the comm board switched from orange to green, indicating that the Rosy Outlook finally came within range from Earth. Cassie punched in the Megaship's code. TJ answered her hail, looking haggard and worn out – which wasn't surprising, considering that it had to be 3 a.m. at Angel Grove; Cassie had expected DECA to pick up the call.

"Tell me you found him", said TJ before Cassie could voice her surprise.

"I have", she said.

"Good, at least something went right today"

"TJ, what happened?" asked Cassie. "Why are you even awake? It has to be, like, 3 a.m."

"It's two, actually", he answered, stifling a yawn. "But who's counting?"

"Mind telling me what happened?" she asked again. "Did you sleep at all in the last 24 hours?"

"No". He yawned again. "I've been awake since you called yesterday"

Which was at one-thirty in the morning.

"Oh jeez", she muttered.

"You can say that again", he agreed. "Andros has disappeared into danger again. Shiera's gone, too – she's been missing since about the time you left - "

"She's not missing", interjected Cassie. "She's here. Teleported on board right after I talked to Ashley, before leaving Eltar"

"She was with you all along?"

"Yeah"

"God, I'm going to kill her", muttered TJ.

"What happened?" asked Cassie. How many times did she ask this already? "Did she and Carlos have a fight?"

"Worse. Her family. She told them, and it didn't go down well. I had to clean it up"

Small wonder TJ looked so harassed. "Shiera's mostly okay, at least", she said. "She's had an episode about four or five hours ago – hypercharge – but we've got it under control and she's sleeping now"

"Yeah, we know about the hypercharge. Carlos collapsed when it happened. Gave Ashley a good scare – like she needed it"

Cassie frowned. "Where did Andros disappear to now?"

"One quest or the other", said TJ tiredly. "Decided that he's not sure he's worthy of being a Power Ranger. Last I talked to Zhane he said Andros was still alive – but that's all we know. He's been missing since before Shiera, even, and no one had heard from him since"

Cassie whistled. "What else did I miss?"

"Well, Karone's missing, too – she's had some sort of revelation and left before she told anyone where she was going to. Hurán's furious – apparently she was supposed to take care of something at Netherie that he can't take care of himself and he wouldn't tell any of us what it's about. That's about it"

Cassie nodded. "What do I do with Shiera?" she asked. "I thought I'll get her to wherever Karone is, but if Karone's off the radar…"

"You say she's stable", said TJ, "so there's no real need to get her to Melissa for inspection. Bring her home and let Carlos handle her"

"I don't think it's a good idea for her to go home, TJ", said Cassie quietly. "She probably wouldn't want to, from what you told me"

"I meant home to the Megaship, not home to her parents' house. She isn't going anywhere near there before I make sure her parents are going to behave themselves"

"That bad?"

"Worse"

They were silent for a few moments.

"So, how did it go with Phantom?" asked TJ.

"Do you have a few spare hours?"

"Yeah, I do. I need to stay awake and if I have one more cup of coffee, I'm going to get an ulcer"

Kerova, Kyota, night

She was on her way to the kitchen, to fetch a glass of water. The girl was standing on the doorstep as if not daring to go in.

"Hi", offered the girl tentatively.

"How long have you been standing there?" asked Rya.

The girl shrugged. "Couple of minutes?" she offered.

"Why didn't you come in?"

"I wasn't sure if I could"

"The door was open, Ashley", said Rya patiently. "It means you can come in". She paused. "Come on in already"

The girl smiled slightly and stepped in. "Zhane isn't here, is he?" she asked as the walked into the kitchen.

"No, he and Nita are out", said Rya, taking out two mugs. "Strolling around, I think. They'll probably be back soon"

"Okay"

Rya handed the girl her tea. "Give it a moment to cool", she warned.

Ashley nodded, taking the mug gingerly and sitting down.

"So", asked Rya conversationally, opening the fridge, "how was your day?"

Ashley considered the question. "I've had worse"

Rya eyes the girl critically and - hopefully - surreptitiously. Ashley was the one among the kids that looked normal: Zhane and Kirrie were worn around the edges, Andros and Karone looked at least five years older than their age and Nita was definitely pinched. Rya put a fruit bowl on the table, and took out the bread and some cheese.

"But you've also had better"

"Yeah, well", Ashley shrugged. "It's better than a normal day on the job"

Rya cocked an eyebrow, though she suspected what that meant. Her suspicion was confirmed when Ashley elaborated: "Nobody tried to do us in or attack our planets so far. What is it with Andros and disappearance acts?" she added irritably.

"When you find out, let me know", said Rya. The girl was ignoring the bread, but munching on the fruits. Peanut bars, thought Rya distractedly. We could use those.

Silence reigned for a while. Suddenly Ashley straightened in her seat, and the next moment she all but bolted to the front door. Rya followed her at a slightly more normal pace. She saw two figures, walking, on the other side of the plaza, but it was too dark and they were too far for her to recognize.

"Zhane!" shouted Ashley, and the next moment she was running down the path. The taller of the two figures broke into a run, with the other following close behind him. Zhane and Ashley met halfway across the plaza. For a moment he swung her around, and the next they were standing in place, holding each other.

People peered out of windows and doors of virtually every house within range, but Rya knew that neither Ashley nor Zhane could care less that they were making a scene. She also knew that the neighbours would forgive the racket Ashley made – after all, she was Ashley of Earth. She wondered if Ashley knew what a sensation she was. Probably not. Andros wasn't the first Kerovan to choose an off-worlder – his own mother being a case in point. Kerova was a sparsly-populated word sitting at the junction of several commerce routes: as a result, off-world relationships were perfectly normal for Kerovans. Ashley wasn't just any off-worlder, though: she was from Earth. The Kerovans knew of Earth – they knew that their ancestors were brought by Eltarans from Earth to Kerova millennia ago – but that planet had become a thing of legend. To have a living, breathing Earther among them was a thing of wonder, and Ashley had no idea what the press made of her. Rya tried to keep it that way.

Nita was walking up the path. "She's crying on his shoulder", she informed her mom. "I hope he's done with his own crying, so that now he can comfort her a bit"

"Probably not"

"Probably not", agreed Nita, standing shoulder to shoulder with her mother. "Kirrie put tadpoles in Andros' drawers, earlier. I took them out, but he's going to be missing on clean socks when he gets back"

"Tadpoles couldn't have done that much damage"

"It wasn't the tadpoles. It was the slime and the mud that came with them"

Netherie, next to the Golden Guard camp, evening

Hurán bows slightly. "Lady Dimitria"

I nod my head. "Lady Dimitria"

"Hurán", she nods in reply. "Queen Littäneviel. I was not aware you would be here?"

"That echoes in my thoughts"

"Indeed". So far so good. She turns to Hurán again. "I was expecting the lady Karone?"

Surprise: she's in a good mood. I expected her to be at least slightly annoyed, considering as she'd been called away from her planet for no obvious reason by a person who isn't overly fond of her. Then again, knowing Karone, Dimitria probably think that Karone is charmed by her presence.

"The princess is held up, I'm afraid. She request your forgiveness"

"Certainly"

My turn. "May I have the pleasure of your company in the meantime?"

"Is the pleasure not mutual?"

Hurán's comm beeps. He probably set that one in advance.

"Excuse me, queen and lady, but I must leave"

"Have fun", I tell him.

Dimitria just nods.

"You seem quite comfortable here" she remarks, the moment Hurán is out of earshot.

"I'm here a lot", I admit. Like she didn't know it beforehand.

"So I heard"

"Shall we walk?" I suggest.

"Why not?"

I pick a semi-random direction, aiming for a walk around the camp. Lysie walks at a respectful distance behind Dimitria and myself.

"Is that not an acolyte's band on your wrist?"

I knew there was a reason she gives me the creeps. "You don't believe in small talk, do you?"

"Is that not the reason that you come here often?"

I'm not answering that.

"I have been curious about the band since…" She pauses. "Since I saw you wearing it, when we last met". Another pause. "It was the first I saw an acolyte's band since the fall of the Netherie"

Too many memories; I look away.

"You really don't believe in small talk", I finally say. Not answering is just too rude, even for me. "Mom sent me on grand tours when I was younger – couple of months on a different planet each year. All princesses get that. I was recalled from Netherie ahead of time, though, because my aunt Einryl was getting married. The attack was two weeks after I left". I look at Dimitria. "I got the band just before I left. It was honorary. Yuria Yilsha herself gave it to me"

Dimitria nods slowly. "And now it serves its purpose"

"What?"

"Yuria Yilsha knew what was coming", says Dimitria patiently. "She knew you would not return to Netherie for years, if at all. You wore the band all those years, did you not?"

I nod cautiously, not trusting my voice to speak.

"Was it not a constant reminder for you, of a world destroyed that was worth saving?"

I turn my head again. "If you've been so bursting with questions, you didn't have to wait for a chance meeting"

"I've been trying to receive an audience with you for a while now". She actually sounds amused. "Your department of Foreign Affairs seemed to think that an interview of no stated issue is also of no importance"

They would think that – but not when the person requesting the interview is a figure of Dimitiria's caliber.

"It wasn't the department"

Both Dimitira and I turn and look at Lysie. She raises her chin in defiance. "That was me", she informs us. "She's been requesting this 'interview' since a week after the funeral, Täna. I told Foreign Affairs to leave you be for a while. You've had more than enough on your plate. If she wouldn't say what's it about, it could wait"

Such a breach of protocol can cost Lysie her career. She shouldn't be owning up to this – especially not in front of a third party that happens to be the affronted side – if not for the sake of Lysie's life, then because we're here to avoid a diplomatic crisis, not create one. The girl's rash, not stupid. What does she think she's doing?

"If you think I did wrong, go ahead and fire me", she says. That chin is still stuck up. "I knew what I was doing. You've had the four months from hell, Täna, and nobody seemed to care"

It's Dimitria who speaks, strangely enough. "Had I not pressed more if that matter had been that urgent?"

Which is the Inquirian's way of saying that she'll let it pass. I close my eyes and let out a long breath. "I guess you can keep your job", I murmur. "But try not to do something like that again, will you?"

"Okay", she agrees.

The moments tick by, but none of us are moving. None of us have a reason to, really.

"I didn't need the band to remember", I say. The words are hard to say. The only person I explained this to before is Hurán, and that's because I had to. Lysie and Dimitiria sort of earned the right to know, though. "I babysat her, for crying out loud. She's the one who first called me Täna, because Litänaviel is a hard name for a four-years-old to pronounce"

"Melissa", says Lysie quietly. "You're talking about Melissa"

"Yeah". Now is my turn to stare into the sunset. "I'm probably the only person, save for her cousins, who know her from before – before Netherie fell. This is why I'm here"

I startle when I feel a soft touch on my cheek – Dimitria's hand, making me look at her. "Are you not wondering what good you're for?" she asks. "This is the difference of a queen from a princess, Littäneviel: a princess would act to realize her vision of the world. A queen has others acting, too, for she has drawn them into this vision to make it theirs as well as hers. This is what a queen can do, that a government cannot"

Lysie offers a packet of tissues. Dimitria takes off her hand as I take the packet from Lysie and wipe my face.

"It was not my intention to embarrass you", says Dimitira quietly.

I shake my head. "If only it'd been as easy as you make it out to be. I can't even convince Neicser - my cousin", I explain. "She's crown princess, so I can't avoid her, and she's been giving me hell about all the time I've been spending roundtripping to and from Netherie instead of sitting at home and babysitting the cabinet"

Dimitria seems pensive. "I've tried to convince the government of Inquirus to allow me to organize a planetwide volunteer force, to help rebuild Netherie. They would not be convinced that Inquirus would make such an effort alone, and I could not approach another planet's government without the approval of my own"

I almost smile. "I thought of something similar, too, and couldn't do anything about it for pretty much the same reasons"

"I won't hold your calls again", says Lysie dryly. "But don't you think that you should strike your agreement after dealing with the other issue?"

I almost forgot, actually.

Dimitria looks between us. "Was is really Karone I was supposed to meet?" she asks. "Or was it you?"

"Karone was supposed to handle this", I say slowly, "but she really did get held up. I'm here in her stead"

Dimitria frowns. "What matter is so grave, that Hurán would summon you across constellations for?"

I take a deep breath. "Shall we walk?" I suggest.

Eltar space

She didn't hear Shiera wake up, and didn't hear Shiera's steps or the locker door as Shiera got her bag. She didn't notice Shiera standing behind her as she navigated the yacht through the system and into orbit, either.

"How're we getting to Earth?"

Cassie swiveled in her chair, startled. She stared at Shiera. "Give me a heart attack, why don't you!" she said finally. "I thought you were still sleeping!"

Shiera shrugged. "Sorry for spoiling your quest", she said.

It Cassie a moment to process the question, and she huffed in amusement when she did. "You didn't spoil anything. I found him"

To Cassie's surprise, Shiera seemed startled. "How long was I out?" she asked.

"About six hours?" offered Cassie. "The trip back, plus something like an hour and a half"

"But…" Shiera frowned. "Anarad?"

"Kenshin", corrected Cassie. "And I'm bashing Andros when he's back, if Ashley won't skin him alive. Or Zhane. Or Karone"

Shiera opened her mouth to ask another question, but then TJ's voice came over the comm: "Hi, Cassie, can I teleport you over already? Alpha's ready for Shiera in the infirmary"

"Sure" said Cassie, getting up but not turning from Shiera. "And you can tell Alpha to stand down. Shiera decided to freak me out, then play 20 questions"

"Shiera?" came Carlos' voice, drowning TJ's "She's up?"

"Just teleport us already", said Cassie; Shiera had frozen up, and Cassie wasn't about to wait.

The yacht dissolved in light, and the Megaship's bridge materialized around them. Carlos was hugging Shiera almost before they were fully out of the teleportation stream, as much as Cassie could tell. She looked at TJ.

He shrugged. "Wouldn't you?" he said.

"Hell, yeah", she answered fervently.

He turned his head to DECA's camera. "Hi, DECA, mind getting us home?"

"Certainly, TJ"

"Maximum hyperrush". He looked at Cassie. "We'll be home in no time. Get a room", he added in Shiera and Carlos' direction. "You're dead on your feet, both of you, and it's not like you're going anywhere else tonight"

"Her family?" asked Cassie after Carlos and Shiera left the bridge.

TJ shook his head. "Let them stew", he said. "They've got a lot to think about. She's not going anywhere near that house before we can be sure of what they're going to be like – which means talking to them again. And I want to get some sleep, too"

"So go sleep. I'll watch the bridge"

"The probability of attack en route to Earth are infinitesimal", said DECA. "You may both sleep"

TJ nodded. "My uncle thinks I'm on the same camping trip as you", he said. "We're clear. DECA, wake me up at five-thirty, okay? I promised Shiera's parents I'd update them at six sharp"

"Confirmed. Sleep well, Rangers"

"Thanks, DECA"

Kerova, Kyota, night

He'd promised himself that he'd yell at her. He was fully intending to tell her off for disappearing like that, for worrying him as if he didn't have enough to worry about. He'd specifically stayed up for that purpose. When her distinctive teleport signature appeared in the kitchen, he got up and was about to give her the speech he rehearsed in his head – and if she caught his angry expression and crossed arms, it didn't show in the way Karone all but collapsed and cried on his shoulder.

Angry speech so far out the window that it was in another system, Zhane awkwardly rubbed circles on her back and made soothing noises for almost fifteen minutes. Mom and the girls didn't wake up – Karone was crying in a perfectly eerie silence, and his own voice was nothing more than a murmur.

"Karone?" he asked when his feet were getting sore. "Mind telling me what's going on?"

She hiccupped. "I'm going to have to do it again. We're going to have to do it again, and she just might die anyway. It's not fair"

"Of course it's not fair", he agreed.

"You", she said, jabbing her finger in his shoulder without unburying her face from his chest, "have no idea what I'm talking about"

"True. But you've been crying for half an hour straight, so it's gotta be something really bad"

"I have not been crying for half an hour"

There was a clock on the wall. He glanced at it. "It's now 25 minutes since you teleported in. Close enough"

"Yeah", she muttered. "Is Andros back yet?"

"No. But Shiera was with Cassie the whole time"

"She was?" Karone finally lifted her face. Zhane couldn't help but cringe at how awful she looked.

"Smart girl", murmured Karone, apparently oblivious to his reaction. "At least she wasn't alone. But no news from Andros?"

"I wish. But Phaedos is a long way from here, and the quest probably took hours, and maybe he decided to rest a bit before returning home…" Zhane's voice trailed. Other side of the galaxy or not, Andros has been gone for twenty hours. It wasn't that long by Andros' standards, but still.

"It doesn't help that I know he's alright", murmured Karone. "I'm still worried sick"

"That makes two of us"

"Three", corrected Ashley, padding into the kitchen. "What an awful day"

"Ashley?" Karone turned in Zhane's arms. "What're you doing here?"

Ashley shrugged. "Waiting"

Karone exhaled slowly. Zhane pulled her closer, resting his head on top of hers and closing his eyes. "I don't want to worry about anyone anymore", he said.

"Amen to that", said Ashley fervently.

"Aye", agreed Karone. She closed her eyes and leaned back against Zhane, and they both fell into the chair with her in his lap. "Not going to happen, though"

Netherie, Golden Guard camp, night

We've been staring into the night for what feels like forever.

"What will I do?" asked Dimitria finally. "Would it be wise to take her home now? Wouldn't it be wrong to leave her?"

"I don't know", I say. "I wish I could help you, but I'm just the messenger"

Dimitria smiles faintly. "I didn't shoot you, did I?"

"And I very much appreciate it", I assure her.

"What will I do?" she asks again.

This time I don't answer.

"Would she even believe me, when I tell her?"

"I don't know. She wouldn't want to believe, but there's no mistaking that you look like sisters"

She considers, and then she turns to me. "Will you take me to her?"

"Sure"

She fidgets all the way to the holding area. I stop one of the guards. "Do you know where Divatox is held?"

"Section 1, tent 23A", he says. "Can't miss it. It's the only white one around. Not that it'll stay white long, in this weather. I've no idea what the captain was thinking"

I think I have an inkling. What do you know, Hurán has a sense of humor. "Thanks"

"Sure"

We find the tent easily enough, and step inside. Behind the force field, Divatox begins to wail as soon as she sees us. "Oh, no! Not her! Go away!"

I nod at the guards. "Would you folks step outside for a moment?"

"Go away!" continues Divatox. "Why are you here, anyway?"

Dimitiria reaches up, and slowly undoes her veil. I look between them. Lysie gasps silently and covers her mouth. Hurán was right – they look so much alike that it's incredible how no one ever noticed.

Dimitira stops wailing. For a moment, she just seems bewildered, and then her eyes widen and she step back with a look of utter horror. "What's this supposed to mean?" she shrieks. "You look just like me!"

"Would it not seem that we are related?" asks Dimitria. No way she's that calm.

"No!" shrieks Dimitria. "No way! You are not related to me!"

"The genetic scan suggests otherwise", Dimitria tell her, "as does the similarity in our features"

"No way. I refuse to be related to you"

"I don't think you get to choose", I mutter. Both sisters look at me with identical annoyance.

Lysie chuckles. Easy for her – she's not the one being stared down by those two.

"Would you stop that?" I ask. "I know you two are used to handling Rangers, but I can't take a double dose of that look"

"I do not have the same look as her", says Divatox automatically. "I hate her!"

"Would that change the truth?" asks Dimitria.

Divatox starts screaming again.

"Lysie?" I ask.

"Yeah?" she answers, raising her voice slightly and stepping closer.

"Can you get me a pain killer? I think we'll be here for a while"

Kerova, Kyota, late at night

"And this is what I have to tell Shiera", sighed Karone. "It's the best chance we'll have, but I hate it all the same"

Ashley and Zhane bugged Karone for the story, she flat-out refused to risk a non-Ranger overhearing, and so they'd escaped the house. Presently they were lying on top of a grassy mound, within view of the neighborhood.

"Any idea what Shiera would say?" wondered Ashley.

"I say she'd do it", muttered Zhane.

"Which is what worries me", admitted Karone. She was fingering her crystal and staring up into the sky.

Ashley frowned. Karone always wore the crystal on top of her cloths, and touched it as little as possible: Ashley had only seen her touch it when she was purposely accessing Zordon's memories. It was odd for Karone to handle the crystal casually, and Ashley was about to ask her about it, when she felt it. Zhane and Karone felt it at the same time, and so they were all on their feet when the teleportation beam shot down. They were all over Andros almost before the teleportation completed, and it was a wonder that the tangle of four didn't lose their balance and managed to stay on their feet.

Andros couldn't breath. Karone was hung on his neck, Ashley was kissing him like she hadn't seen him for at least a month, and Zhane was attempting to hold him and Karone at the same time – because the girls were so positioned that Zhane couldn't hold just Andros. In short, Andros had all his airways blocked – and rather than making a fuss about it, he had totally given in.

At some point Ashley drew back for a fraction of a second, and Karone used that chance to slap Andros so hard that he stumbled. He hadn't seen the blow coming, but he did manage to beat her to talking.

"I'm perfectly aware that I acted like a total and complete jackass", he told her, nursing his cheek; it would bruise, he was sure of that. "Dulcea and at least two Ninjeti spirits chewed me out already, so don't feel obliged to do the same"

"You are the world's biggest jerk", Ashley told him. "And if you ever, ever pull something like this again, don't bother coming back because I'll skin you alive, one square inch after another. I love you, you idiot!"

"Stole the words from my mouth", said Zhane. He jabbed his finger into Andros' chest. "Don't you ever sneak into our bedroom again to leave us a fucking note, d'you hear me?"

Andros raised his hands in surrender. "I hear and obey"

"Good", growled Karone. Suddenly, she glanced at her watch. "Damn! I've got to get going"

"What? Why?" asked Andros.

"Because I self-teleported today enough for a week, and I need to get going now if I want to be at Angel Grove before six a.m."

"What's at Angel Grove at six a.m.?" asked Andros, frowning.

Ashley snapped her fingers. "Shiera's parents!"

"Huh?" Andros wasn't getting it.

"We're all going", said Zhane firmly. "Let's make this a Team Thing. We'll explain on the way", he told Andros. "Oh, damn", he added, "Look – you guys get a ship and punch in a course, I'll go wake mom and tell her where we're going – she's had enough of disappearing acts, too"

"I'd imagine", agreed Ashley with a smile. "Get going"

After Zhane left, Andros looked between Ashley and Karone. "I'm going to regret asking this", he said slowly, "but what did Shiera's parents do?"

Netherie, once-palace of the Yuria, late afternoon

The great halls are empty. The wind blows through the open windows, my steps and breath: those are the only sounds I can hear. The place had been cleaned up a little more since last I was here, but it's still a sight that would've made me ball my hands into fists – if I hadn't been used to it already. I've been here too many times.

Melissa doesn't have a schedule. She'll be at this part of the planet, then another, in the space of hours. Over a day, she'll usually cover twenty-some sites, depending on how they're all progressing. She and the Golden Guard are used to crazy schedules and little sleep. Most hours of the day it's hard to tell where Melissa would be, as there isn't a pattern to her work.

Two times a day, though, finding Melissa is easier. Sunrise and Sundown at what used to be the Yuria's palace: she will always be here at those hours.

It is autumn at this part of the planet. The sunlight is growing golden. I picked the longest route through the halls, and still I will be early. Not that there are 'early' and 'late' in this house. Yilsha tried to explain this to me once: "In the House of the Yuria there can be no 'late' and 'early'", she had told me, "for those words imply a wrongness of timing: that a person or event did not occur at that time at which they were meant to be. Nonsense. Everything happens as it is meant to be, and everything happens at that time at which it is meant to be. Therefore, one cannot be 'early' or 'late' – at least not in this house".

That's Netheriet logic for you. Oshra's preaching has emptied the words 'right' and 'wrong' of the content usually given to them. 'Wrong', as Oshra taught, is only to try and make something or someone into that which they are not. 'Evil' is not hate, malice or anger: coercion and intolerance are. Historically speaking, Netheriets were ready to accept an awful lot of people that the rest of the 'good people' considered beyond redemption, and I'd be mightily surprised if a single Yuria ever gave a damn. Yilsha always drew a childlike glee from confusing her visitors. "Somebody has got to keep things in one piece", she told one particularly bemused ambassador who tried to reason with her, and failed. It takes a Netheriet to consider opening a closed argument 'keeping things in one piece'.

What will Melissa grow to be like?

Astro Megaship, geostationary orbit above Angel Grove

"She's not going to like it", said Cassie flatly. "She'll hate not being told"

"The situation is too unpredictable", argues Karone. "I don't want her hurt more than necessary"

"Best if she's not hurt at all", said Zhane.

"Too late for that, I'm afraid", said TJ.

"Guys", said Andros warily. "Look". He paused, trying to arrange his thought while his teammates and sister looked – or rather, glowered – at him. "We all consider Shiera a teammate, right?"

Everyone nodded.

"Being a Ranger is not without rules. Three of those rules make the Power Ranger's Oath, but they are not the only rules of the Morphing Grid. Taking care of one's own is another one of those rules. Anyone who messes with a Ranger, had better be ready to face that Ranger's team and every other Ranger in the universe, too, if the situation calls for that". Andros paused again. "You all heard TJ's report. Shiera's family have no idea what being a Ranger means. They're not going to learn in one day, I'm afraid. They're also not going to learn on their own. We're going to help them learn. If we're going to protect Shiera, this is the way". Third pause. "And if any of you think we can get that kind of conversation with Shiera also present – I'm listening"

Nobody said anything. Andros nodded. "DECA? Call the Karlson residence and put them on the speaker"

"Let me talk to them", said TJ in a low voice, just audible over the dial tone. "They'll be expecting me"

Andros nodded mutely.

Amanda Karlson answered the phone. "Hello?" she said hoarsely.

"Mrs. Karlson? This is TJ Johnson speaking"

"TJ! Are there…?"

"Would it be okay if we come down?" interrupted TJ.

"We?" asked Amanda cautiously.

"The team", elaborated TJ. "May we teleport down?"

"Uh – sure", said Amanda, but she sounded skeptical. "When can we expect you?"

"A few seconds. See you". TJ nodded once, and DECA terminated the line.

"If you think I'm not coming, you're so wrong", said Karone.

"They're not ready for you", said TJ bluntly. "It took me ages to get them to accept that Shiera's evil episode was not of her own volition. They're yet to realize what you've been through"

"Karone, stay", said Andros quietly. "She and Carlos might wake up while we're down there. She'll need you here"

Karone glared at him, but did not get up when the rest of them did.

Andros pulled at his uniform jacket self-consciously. "DECA, five to teleport"

Earth, Angel Grove, 05:30

They materialized in the Karlson's living room, standing in formation, uniforms immaculate. Ethan Karlson looked at them skeptically. "Where's my daughter?" he demanded. "Have you found her yet?"

"Ethan". Amanda put her hand on her husband's arms. She didn't like the situation any more than he did – but the kids looked angry, and she figured making them angrier wouldn't make things better or easier.

"Shiera's safe", answered the guy in the middle of the formation. Andros, she remembered the name; red Astro Ranger, TJ had said – not that she could mistake that, considering that the five kids before her were wearing color-coded shirts.

"So you found her?" she asked eagerly.

Andros' expression didn't shift at all. "She wasn't lost. She needed time – maybe still does". Ethan opened his mouth, but Andros beat him to it. "I know you have questions. Maybe we'll answer them later – maybe. After we make a certain point clear". Andros crossed his arms around his chest. For a medium-height guy, he did 'towering and menacing' like nobody's business. "Your daughter is a Power Ranger. So are we. Power Rangers take care of our own. You hurt her, you answer to us"

"I tried to explain last night", added TJ. "This isn't simple, on any of the involved parties. You'd better try, though, because everyone else is trying"

"So yes, you got angry with her last night because you thought she did something wrong", said Ashley quietly. "But we're the ones she tried to kill when she was under that spell. And you know what? None of us held a grudge. Not even for half a second"

"You felt hurt by what she told you", continued Cassie. "You probably still do. So you hurt her that bad that she fled. Shiera doesn't flee from anything"

"You're probably thinking how dare we". Zhane took up the narrative. "You think that as you're her family, you have some right over her that we don't. You probably also think that as you're over twice our age, we don't have a right to preach to you. As Andros said before, and TJ probably tried to explain you last night, we are her family just as well, and you'd better learn to live with it. You're stuck with us. As for the age thing…" He shrugged. "My mom had some sharp things to say about this situation which I'm not going to quote. So age has no more to do with this than blood has"

It was Andros' turn again. "I don't think I need to tell you that no matter what happened last night, she wants to come home"

"She doesn't know we're having this conversation, by the way", said TJ dryly. "Keep it that way"

"So the choice is yours". Andros continued, ignoring TJ's interjection. "Because, I swear, one more stupid remark from either of you, and I don't care what she says, she doesn't set foot in this house ever again"

Ethan opened his mouth to say 'How dare you', then thought better of it. Insolent or no, the kids before him probably could make sure he'd never see his daughter again. "We're her parents", he said flatly.

"Act like it", was the sharp answer from Cassie.

"Does any of your parents know?" asked Amanda suddenly.

"Of us from Earth? No", said Ashley.

"You think any of us want the team standing in front of our parents?" asked TJ.

"I don't understand", said Amanda quietly. "What do you expect from us? You can't…" she struggled with the words. "We can't pretend nothing happened. Forget Ethan and myself – do you have any idea what this is doing to Emma? She hardly fell asleep last night!"

"I didn't sleep", corrected a small voice.

The Rangers whirled around; the Karlsons stared. Emma's small form – looking even smaller in her nightclothes – shuffled uneasily towards them. "The phone woke me up. I heard you talking". There was no doubt that the kid didn't sleep at all. She looked like she'd been crying, too. Her face was set with childish stubbornness as she looked up at the Rangers. "I don't want her to go", she said. "I don't understand, but I do understand she didn't mean to hurt anyone. I just wanted to know why she wears green. I didn't want her to hate me"

"She doesn't hate you", said Cassie. "We were together the last day. She didn't say much about what happened, but trust me when I say she loves you, and nothing's ever going to change that"

"So why isn't she coming home?" demanded Emma. She blinked as tears welled up in her eyes. "I don't care if she's green, I don't want her to go away!"

Ashley locked eyes with Andros as Amanda walked past them and hugged her little daughter. Andros nodded once. "I'll go see if she's up", said Ashley to the air, and teleported out.

"It can't be that easy", said Ethan.

Andros turned to face him. "It isn't", he said.

"Don't be hard on Shiera, because she's harder on herself", said Zhane. "It's the same thing with Karone"

"Karone?" Ethan frowned. "Oh, Astronema"

Andros eyes narrowed dangerously. "Karone's my sister"

"As I told you last night", said TJ pointedly. "Look, guys, this is all pointless. Shiera'll probably be here in minutes. Let's try not to have a fight, okay?"

Ethan and Andros were still glaring daggers at each other.

Netherie, Sunset Room at once-palace of the Yuria, sunset

Melissa halted as she saw someone standing in the room. Then she recognized the person and rushed forward, even as Täna turned around and smiled, opening her arms.

"Täna! I didn't know you're here!"

The queen of Triforia's smile softened as she held the younger Yuria. "I didn't know I'd be here, either", she said. "I was in the neighborhood so I thought I'd drop by"

"In the neighborhood". Melissa sounded skeptic.

"Hurán needed a favor", admitted Täna. "He'll probably tell you about it later on, but there wasn't really a reason to bother you with it"

Melissa knew a lie when she heard one, be it a white lie or not, but she wasn't going to call Täna on it. Hurán would tell her later, anyway, and Täna knew she couldn't really lie to Melissa. She adjusted her head against Täna's shoulder, and Täna strengthened her hold somewhat.

"You know I only want to help, right?" she asked.

Melissa frowned. "What's on your mind, Täna?"

"Healing this planet. Healing you". Täna paused. "The Golden Guard have been working miracles, but they're just not enough"

"Don't you think I know that?"

"How come you never held a press conference?"

Melissa raised her head and looked at Täna. "A press conference?" she repeated.

"That's when you talk to a lot of media people at the same time", clarified Täna. "Though I think you know that"

"Why are you asking?"

"You need more people", repeated Täna. "How are you going to get them if no one knows what things are like here?"

Melissa broke the hug. "If they knew the extent of the damage, they'd call me crazy for trying to heal this planet. They would't think it's possible. I'm not sure it's possible, myself"

"Yes, you are", countered Täna. "If you hadn't believed it possible you wouldn't be standing here, you'd be dead. But you're alive, and there are so many people in this universe, that enough of them would believe. There are planets there with billions of people, Melissa. Enough of them will believe, if given a chance"

Melissa shook her head, and there was fury and sadness in her expression that stopped Täna from reaching out to her again. "Detox", Melissa reminded her. "Most species need daily detox to survive here"

"With all the medical supplies the old Eltaran Pact planets are dishing out, a few more med units would hardly be noticeable", said Täna wryly. "I checked the budget, trust me"

"You talk as if you have the Pact planets behind you"

"Dimitria's in on this, so I've as good as got Inquirus. Together we can probably talk everyone else into helping. Any kind of plan requires you on the nets, though. I'm not asking you to leave Netherie. Just give them a speech. Netherie will probably be flooded with more volunteers than you can assimilate in under a week"

Melissa's face tightened. Anticipating her next argument, Täna added: "You shouldn't do this alone, Melissa" To her surprise, Melissa looked away, arms tightening around her body.

"Oshra keeps saying that", said Melissa distantly. "She keeps saying no one should be alone"

Täna was seriously tempted to point out that Oshra's advice had always been good, but she knew why accepting this particular offer from Oshra would bother Melissa.

"It's a matter of measure", offered Täna tentatively after a moment. "You're more alone than you should be"

"I'm not nearly alone enough"

Täna shook her head. "I don't know her at all, but I don't think she'll do that to you", she told Melissa. "Don't ignore a good piece of advice just because the source is slightly over-involved"

Melissa's grip tightened on her arms; Täna winced – this has got to hurt. "Will you be there, when I talk to them?" she asked in a barely-audible whisper, then added in the same voice: "I don't even know what to say"

"Yes, I'll be there", said Täna, moving closer to Melissa. "I have every intention of always being there when you need me. And if Karone can't write that speech for you, I've got speechwriters in spades".

Very slowly, Täna tried to pull Melissa into another hug, and Melissa allowed herself to be pulled. Her eyes closed, and Täna knew she'd probably be crying soon.

"The sun changes", whispered Melissa. Even with her eyes closed, she could tell when the sun touched the horizon and sunset proper began.

"The sun always changes, Melissa", said Täna. "At any time of the day, be it sunset, sunrise or midday". It was in the Rays – the collection of tractates and story that was the first text Netheriet acolytes were exposed to. Melissa probably knew the text by heart.

Melissa opened her eyes. She seemed to be staring into the sun. "It never looks like it's really changing, though"

"Always changing and never changing", agreed Täna. Another quote.

"Always and never", murmured Melissa, and Täna had the impression that Melissa was talking to the voice in her head as much as she was talking to her. "Change and fixity, together and always". Melissa raised her hand, lazily greeting the sunset. "Planets are round. It's sunset here, but it's sunrise somewhere else"

At that moment, the sun reached the precise angle the designer of the room has had in mind, and rainbows scattered all over the bare walls. This room was one of the precious few rooms that were already repainted. The walls were plain bare white, but so they were meant to be: only the sunset light, broken by the great prismatic windows, decorated this room.

Melissa turned her head to watch the rainbows. "Rainbows are like memories, aren't they? Like ghosts"

Ghosts of the past. Ghosts of the dead. Täna's eyes closed in pain. "Memories are a good thing, Melissa", she said. "Even when they bring pain. I wouldn't want – I wouldn't want not to miss some things, if it means I never would've had them"

"Ghosts", whispered Melissa again. "Sad ghosts. They want to be real, not just reflections on the walls". Light wove around her fingers, tendrils of gold and purple.

"They're real", whispered Täna fiercely. "They're real, those ghosts"

"Most people don't see other people's ghosts"

" 'Don't' doesn't mean they can't. They can, if you'll make it so"

"What if I can't?"

"You can, baby". Täna held her a little closer. "You can"

Earth, Angel Grove, 05:55

TJ found himself holding his fingers crossed behind his back when three teleportation beams, together with Karone's signature outline, appeared in the hallway. There was just no knowing how the situation would develop from here: maybe Shiera and her family would fall on each other's shoulders and all would be well for a while, and maybe someone would say something stupid and the whole cycle will begin again.

The silence was a killer. It seemed that nobody was even breathing. Ethan and Amanda were on either side of the hallway, with the Rangers in the middle; Emma was with Amanda. Of the Rangers, Cassie, Zhane, Andros and he were standing in a close pack, with himself standing very close to Andros, as if to remind the red Ranger to think before acting. Of those who just teleported in, Ashley was slightly behind the other three; Karone was giving a credible impression of being composed; and Carlos' hand was on Shiera's shoulder. As for Shiera…

God, if only someone would move already!

Emma seemed to think the same thing, because she practically leaped from the spot. Shiera caught her, and then the parents moved, too, and the four Karlsons formed a tangle of hugs and tears.

The Astro Rangers rearranged themselves, all the team standing together now, with Carlos closest to the Karlsons and Karone right next to him. "You could've woken us first", Carlos told Andros accusingly.

"It was safer this way", said Andros.

"We should probably give them some time", said Ashley in a low voice. "They really need to talk"

"They're not the only ones", said Zhane. "I think some of us have stories to share, too". He glared pointedly in Andros' direction, which initiated glares from Karone and Ashley, too; Andros had the manners to look sheepish.

"Yeah", said Cassie suddenly. "There are most definitely stories to be told today". She, too, glared at Andros.

"What did I do now?" demanded Andros, who was developing an harassed look at the combine force of the glares directed at him.

"The usual", said Cassie. "Keeping secrets"

"Disappearing", added Ashley.

"Being inconsiderate of others' emotions", continued Zhane.

"Risking your life without a good enough reason", concluded Karone. "Team breakfast sounds like a good idea. We can talk while cooking"

TJ raised his hands. "Don't look at me", he informed Andros. "You brought it on yourself"

"Let's just get out of here", said Zhane, "before they notice us again"

"Good point", murmured Cassie.

"DECA?" Andros raised his communicator. "Six to teleport"

Earth, Angel Grove park, early morning

"I sail to you across the stars…" hummed Cassie to herself, pencil hovering over the page. "No, it's not right". The pencil descended and stroke out the words. A shadow fell over her notebook.

"Hi, Cass" TJ set on the grass next to her. "What're you doing?"

"Writing"

"Looks more like erasing to me", He said flippantly, looking down at the sheets.

She shoved him, but had very little success as she was sprawled on her stomach and he was sitting.

"I've got most of the song written down, but I can't seem to get the chorus right", she admitted. "Finished wolfing down everybody else's breakfast?"

"Hey!" he protested good-naturedly. "Did not!" Before Cassie could say something, he added: "Zhane beat me to it"

Cassie snorted. "Did you ever wonder", she asked suddenly, "I mean, the current team seem so dysfunctional at times, but we made it out okay. The old Turbo team was going good, but we lost. What gives?"

"I don't know", he said frankly. He didn't need to ask what brought up the question – they've already shared all the stories that needed to be shared.

"Ever thought about it?"

"Hell, yeah" He shook his head. "Maybe we should ask Karone, if we really want to know"

"Karone?" Cassie seemed skeptical.

"Zordon's heir and all that. She knows everything he knows"

"Weren't the crystals supposed to contain Zordon's memories only up to the point where he took off his crystal – several millennia ago?"

"Looks like he poured the rest of it in when he healed the crystals". He paused. "Tell me next time you're going there. I want to meet Aaji"

Cassie nodded. "Ashley really wants to get to know Anarad, too. I can see how they relate to one another – but from the little I saw of Aaji, she's nothing like you"

"You're very little like Kat", he pointed out, "and Carlos is nothing like Adam, except that the both like soccer"

Zhane's shadow covered Cassie's sheets. "You shouldn't talk about this stuff so early in the morning," he told them. "Come join the game"

"What game?" asked Cassie. She rolled on her back, Zhane's shadow sheltering her eyes from direct sunlight.

"The Frisbee game he and Andros are so cheating at"

"No, we're not", said Zhane. "Not with Ashley in the game: if either of us tries anything, she'll have the Frisbee in our faces. I tried. Come on", he insisted.

Cassie shrugged, which looked weird lying down. "It's not like I'm being productive", she said. "Writing will wait"

Zhane grinned, and pulled her up when she held out her arms. "Come on", he told TJ. "It's a beautiful day, and nobody's here but us"

"Because we're the only guys crazy enough to be at the park at sunrise", pointed out TJ, but he got up nonetheless. "Now, where's that Frisbee?"