Disclaimer: If I haven't told you that it's mine, then it is the property of Saban, Disney, or whoever I borrowed it from.

Juzblue: Yup, Andros and Ashley are 27 and are about to have four kids. No twins this time, sorry. :P

Mz. Daydream: I needed to give them time together, so I don't feel so bad about everything that I do next. :P I love writing the happy scenes, though.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Sorry, he's dead... Yup, Aidan was a big surprise... and I don't intend to change my mind about anything I have planned for the rest of the story. You can decide for yourself whether or not that's torture. :P

Jenny: Kin Won was important because he was the leader of the colony, and usually it's not a good idea to attack someone/something that's organized and united.

Mel: No, Kin Won stays dead. And stop talking about an earthquake! I don't want to know when I'm going to die!

Chapter 14

"He's dead," Andros repeated softly, the words foreign to him. "Kin Won is dead."

"He is," Tykwa confirmed. "We will grieve for him... but we have larger concerns."

"The Overlords," Ashley put in. "They'll have heard?"

"I imagine so," Tykwa confirmed. "So far, they have sent their soldiers in their places, but I fear that they will not do so any longer."

"I'll have the rangers be on a constant alert," Andros promised, the words sounding hollow to him, but apparently convincing Tykwa. "We've been in worse situations."

"We were united then," Tykwa informed him and Andros stared at her in confusion.

"Aren't we now?"

"Kin Won never named a successor."

Ashley exhaled slowly. "They won't accept you?"

"Most will," she said. "But it only takes one to betray the entire colony."

"Are there any that would?" Andros questioned.

Tykwa shrugged. "We'll know soon."

The alarms suddenly blared. Andros and Ashley glanced at each other in alarm. "They didn't waste any time," Andros muttered, as the image on the viewing screen split in two. Half remained Tykwa's worried face, and the other half was filled with the image of Skylar, Ximena, and Spyridon, standing directly in front of three armored figures that had to be the Overlords.

"Deca, get the rangers," Ashley ordered, her voice suddenly small. Deep in her heart, she already knew that they couldn't win this.

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"All right, you guys," Ryan said shakily, staring at their enemies. "We can do this."

"Yeah," Matt said dubiously. "If we keep fighting."

The Overlord Ciela laughed. Her voice was cold as ice as she nudged Spyridon forward. "It's time to finish this once and for all."

"I agree," Idris said, and Skylar stepped forward.

"Then attack!" Ailbhe cried, and all six sprang forward at once. It was clear from the start that the rangers were outmatched, and although they struggled to even the odds against themselves, they quickly realized that they were fighting a losing battle, one that they were only determined to drag out as long as they could.

"You're never going to win," Ryan grunted, the words hollow as he took a blow squarely in the stomach. Ximena laughed.

"We already have."

"You have not," Ryan gasped out, pushing himself to his feet again. "We're still alive, aren't we?"

"It does not matter if you are alive or not," Ximena told him. "The Overlords won this battle fourteen years ago. This is merely a rematch that will end in your deaths."

"We were not here fourteen years ago," Ryan said. "That makes a difference."

"But not enough of one," Ximena retorted, driving the end of her staff into his chest. "As you can see."

"Leave him alone!" Tempest cried, blocking Ximena's next blow.

"Out of my way, child," Ximena ordered, pushing past her as Ryan recovered. "He's getting nothing more than he deserves."

"You think I'd stand aside and let you kill my brother?" Tempest demanded, finding enough strength in her small body to send Ximena sprawling. Drawing her Star Slinger, she took aim, only to have the weapon knocked from her hand an instant later as Skylar came to Ximena's rescue, wrenching Tempest's left arm as she caught her in a chokehold.

"Let her go!" Mira cried, knocking Skylar from behind as Ciaran attacked from the side. Skylar was forced to release Tempest, but Ximena caught her, twisting her around again to receive a hard hit to the chest. Tempest fell to the ground, her suit vanishing in a shower of yellow sparkles as Damien moved in and dragged her away, pulling her to her feet at the same time.

"You are not a bad fighter, little sister," Skylar said with a twisted grin. "But not good enough."

Tempest's already pale face went completely ashen as she realized that Skylar's words were directed towards her. "S-s-sister?"

"Your precious Auntie never told you?" Ximena taunted. "What a surprise..."

"That's enough," Ryan shouted, leaping forward again, his Spiral Saber crashing down on Skylar's shoulder. She fell back, but caught his arm as the next blow came down.

"You wouldn't kill me, now would you, brother?"

Ryan hesitated, and then charged at her again. "I suppose you think I'd let you win if you could convince me that I'm your brother? We're all your brothers and sisters, is that it?"

"No," Skylar informed him calmly, dodging his next blow. "But it obviously makes no difference to you."

"Why should it?" Ryan growled. "You're lying. Tempest might believe you, but I don't."

"Ryan, no!" Tempest shouted, catching his arm as he made to fire with his powered up Spiral Saber. "Don't do this."

"Tem, get off!" Ryan snapped, trying to break free of her grasp. "You don't know what you're doing."

"No, you don't know," Tempest snapped back. "If there's a chance that she's telling the truth, don't do this."

"We've given you enough to think about," Ximena said.

"We'll meet again soon, rangers," Ailbhe said, and then they vanished.

"Deca," Ryan said, "get us out of here."