Summary: The Gold Rangers secret is out, but so are emotions.

A/N: I'm not putting these Author Notes in Italics because I really want to take the time and thank you guys/gals for hanging in there with me for the duration of this story. I really like the direction this story is taking and I'm glad you do as well. Enjoy the story here on out, friend.

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The first clue to the Rangers that the Gold One was near, was the golden flash in the alley. If that wasn't enough, the screams that followed shortly after definitely sent warning bells off in the rangers heads. They morphed almost immediately and were outside in a flash of light.

But even Superhero's fail sometimes.

Hayden yanked the staff out of Cassidy's fallen body and glanced up at the Rangers. Blood dripped from the tip of the blade and grinned beneath his mask. He did not falter in his step and he flicked the staff, sending some blood splashing onto Devin's already blood marred body. He took a few steps back, laughing insanely, but it had fallen on deaf ears. The rangers stared at the mutilated body; some fighting back the tears while others were already crying. Hayley had vanished, back into the safety of the café. She couldn't stand the sight of blood.

"Let this be a lesson rangers." He had said, lifting into the air. "I always get what I want."

In a golden flash of light, he was gone. The Rangers let out of a breath they hadn't realized they were holding and Ethan ran to their friends. He knelt down between the two, placing his fingers at their necks. For a moment, they waited and watched, hoping and praying.

Ethan moved his hands away and sighed against his mask. "Their dead."

And the tears fell.

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February 1, 2007

The Second day back from school was not an easy one. The day seemed to drag on for Tommy and the other's much longer then usual. The first five minute of class already felt like 5 hours; they were exhausted before they even started talking. Tommy looked down at his teachers guide, but the words seem to jumble together. He blinked, shook his head and tried to clear away the thoughts, but that wasn't happening. He sighed heavily and placed the Expo marker down and turned to face his class.

"You know what…free day today. Just chill; do whatever you want." He said, rubbing his forehead and sat down. There wasn't much excitement in the room; word about Cassidy and Devin's death had spread like a wildfire. Today was just not a good day. He rubbed his throbbing head and closed his eyes, trying to fight back to the urge to scream. Anger boiled deep within the pit of his stomach and moved throughout his entire body. His eyes snapped open as he glared at the desk.

RING!

He jumped and glanced at the phone as it rang for a second time. He sighed and picked it up, pressing it against his ear. "Dr. Oliver speaking."

"Tommy? It's me, Hayley…I've got some more bad news for you."

Tommy sighed, baling his fist. "Hit me."

"I really don't know how to put this lightly. I know we've all been under a lot of stress, but I think it's about to get worse. Shortly after you left for school this morning I received a transmission. Tommy, it was Ashley; the Space Rangers didn't make it. They followed Vertox to the Gama-Tri sector and then he hunted them down. They're all dead…"

Tommy felt the tears burn his cheeks as he clutched his hair. He wanted to scream but nothing came; not even air. "Tommy, that's not the only bad news. I've found out who the Gold Ranger is."

He glared at the desk now and looked up at the wall; the tears streaming down his face. Thankfully, no one could see him. "I checked the Video Tapes outside the Cyber Space…Tommy, it's Hayden; Hayden Christopher James." Tommy's eyes went wide as he glanced at the student. He was just sneering back at him, almost pleased about something. Something inside Tommy shattered. He could no longer control himself, his thoughts or his emotions. He slammed the phone down, promptly splitting in two and stood up forcefully. The chair slammed against the wall, cracking it. All eyes rested on Tommy as he shot a glare across the room to the corner. He turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door.

The window split and spider-webbed.

Put on his concerned face, Hayden dashed for the door. "I'm going to see if he's okay, stay here!" He said to everyone and threw open the door. He grinned at Tommy's back and followed him out. Flicking his wrist, the morpher appeared and he pushed through the doors and into the parking lot. Tommy stopped and let out a petrifying, rage-filled scream. He whirled around, facing Hayden with tears streaming down his eyes.

"YOU FOOL! RANGERS DO NOT KILL FOR PLEASURE! RANGERS FIGHT JUSTICE AND PEACE!" Tommy squeezed the key to his morpher; blood trickling down his chin from biting his lip. "This is for Cassidy and Devin…DINO THUNDER! POWER UP!" The Black-Gold flashed consumed his body as a second scream filled the air.

Hayden just stood there, face contorted into an malicious grin. He raised his arm and casually brushed a strand of his tan-brown hair behind his ear. "Gold Ranger, Dino Thunder." His suit began to cackle to life around him as he squeezed his staff. "Full Power."

A golden splash of light blinded all those who watched, awe-struck. The mantle weaved with the wind, though the Gold One moved not an inch. Raising the staff, he laid it to rest against his shoulder and waited…just…waited. Tommy slashed the air with his Brachio-Staff and fell into stance. This madness had to stop now; had to end. He couldn't let anymore innocents die; he couldn't let one of his rangers die for that matters. This had to be the last battle, no matter the cost – even if it meant his own life.

Suddenly the two rangers moved simultaneously. The staffs moved with insurmountable speed and accuracy and they clashed together with a furious chain of blows. Tommy pushed forward, striking high and low, quickly switching from to side to side. Hayden met him move for move, backing away slowly as he moved to get a vantage point. Tommy suddenly twisted and swung low but struck one end of the staff. Quickly he reversed, spinning the staff over his head and came down with a powerful overhand – vertical slash.

Hayden was no longer there.

The ground cracked and splintered as chips of cement shot into the air. Tommy stared at the empty space, wide-eyed. Where had he gone? One second he was there, the next he was gone. Suddenly he heard the all to familiar ping of metal. He looked to the side, seeing the tip of the staff near his face. "Fire Shadow." The Gold One said monotonously. A massive wave of fire shot out of the staffs tip and slammed into Tommy. The wave sent him hard into a nearby car and completely through it. He struck another and another before he finally came to rest against a brick wall. The fire vanished and Hayden lowered his staff, grinning beneath his mask.

Tommy collapsed to the ground and demorphed. Blood trickled down his chin as he clutched his chest. Pain raced through his body as he tried to move, but fell back against the wall again. Just like that, the battle had began, then was over…all over. All in the blink of an eye.

"You have spirit, I will give you that." Hayden compliment, slowly advancing on him. "But your power is just not enough…this time, Dr. O…I am afraid you have met your match."

Tommy forced himself up, growling angrily as he shakily reached for his morphin key. He fell to his knees again and then flat on his face as he could feel his consciousness drifting away. The last thing he heard before drifting off was the cries of his teammates and the screams of Kimberly…

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Hayden stopped the plunging staff and glanced back at the other rangers. He sneered against his mask and looked down at the fallen Tommy, then to his gem. It pulsated lightly and he turned to face them. Taking a deep breath, he glared at the approaching rangers and let his wings expanded. "Next time." He roared and lifted into the air and vanished in a ball of golden light.

Kimberly fell to her knee's beside Tommy, crying hard. She laid her hands on his chest, feeling his chest and fall slowly; blood trickling down his chin. She clutched his shirt, shaking and crying. Her tears streamed down her chins, dripping onto his shirt. Kira knelt down beside her, hugging her as Ethan and Conner attended to him.

"Kira, I want you to bring Kimberly home. Ethan, Trent and I are teleporting back with Dr. O. Go, now." Conner said and tapped a button on his bracelet and within their own respective colors, they vanished.

Kira sighed, helping Kimberly up and hugged her close. "Come on…it's time we go home…" She said and helped her friend towards the car.

Today was just not a good day…

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A/N: gasp Yep. The Megarangers (Space Rangers) are gone and so are Cassidy and Devin. Yeesh, huh? What do you think so far?

May the Powers Protect You.