-1

Just as Lexi was about to speak: going into the surreal situation in more depth, her COM link rang.

"You better get that…it could be you-" Tommy told his daughter as his cell started to ring too. He glanced down at it and gave a 'sorry' shrug. Opening it up and moving out of the room, into the hall, to take the call.

Lexi watched her father, wearily, as she zoned out for a few seconds. Then she hit the uplink button on her data pad, which is like a telephone, camera and teleportation unit, all-in-one.

"Hey Mom…" Lexi spoke quickly, "Guess what!"

Meanwhile Tommy's concerned features doubled at the caller on the other end.

"Andros…No…I jus…Are you sure? Maybe these kids were just having fun…Okay…all right…I am like only two hours from you…I'll come over right now." As he was sporting to hang up the phone, a thought came to him. "Did one of the kids name begin with a K?" Tommy was either very naïve or very connected to obvious universal signs. His daughter's dream, more and more seemed to resemble a sign. One that he would probably regret, but if she was destined for this, than not even Kim would be able to stop her.

He focused back in as he heard his daughter whining.

"Mom! But…you said…Okay fine. I'll stay home for Christmas…all alone…" Lexi sniffled, "it's not like you really care…At least you have Dad." With that dead weight of a sentence she slammed the 'esc' button. Cutting the connection dead and short. A hand lightly comforted her shoulder. She looked up, tear stained eyes and all, at her father. Who, she saw surprisingly, had the same appearance.

"I don't spend time with her…So…do me a favor, don't ever use that on her again. That's low."

"I am sorry," Lexi's answer came out hauntingly. "I guess I let my anger get to me…"

Tommy struggled not to laugh.

"That would be more like a Jason trait…You sure you haven't seen him recently…" His teasing had the right affect and before long Lexi couldn't help but grin.

"So…who was on the phone?" She asked him.

"A friend." Tommy told her as if that would end the talk but to her relief he wasn't shutting her out. "How about you and I take a trip…He needs my help and I think that you might just be able to be of assistance."

"Sure," was the lightning response.

"Okay…Great." Tommy sounded a little nervous, "Take your dream analysis with you."

Lexi nodded although she was none to sure as to what her dream could possibly have to do with her father's friend. It only took her moments to pack all of her belongings that she needed. As they both headed to the door, Matie let himself in.

"Lexica Hart I need…to…" The words died on his tongue as he stared in disbelief between his best friend and the " guest" they had, had several hours prior.

"What the hell? Girl you have some," Matie cursed, grabbing Lexi by the elbow. His face a mixture of several emotions and color.

Lexi gasped in surprise, she hadn't even heard him at the door.

"Umm, shut up…Matie…this," she winced, "is my Dad," Her look at her best friend was one of, "no question asking' time.

"You're what?" Matie asked stupefied Lexi's patience, however, had run out and she shook her head. "Why didn't you tell me?" He hissed in her ear, eyeing Tommy, "you…him…You have a famous."

Lexi spun on her heel.

"Matie! No one's supposed to know, so you better not go blabbing to anyone. God help you if I have to do damage control." Her anger rising, it took Tommy's reassurance to calm her down.

"You were in her class this morning, I remember. Listen, we're in a hurry…I don't think it'd hurt if you came…if you wanted."

Matie's frivolous behavior was instantly changed as he became giddy with excitement.

"I am your guy," he spoke enthusiastically to Tommy. With that settled the older ushered the two teens outside, down the halls and out to the fresh air. Where they found a small ship in the distance, a woman was running down the ramp, her blonde hair held back by a black head band that very well matched the rest of her dark apparel.

"Andros said it couldn't wait," the woman offered in apology to Tommy's inquiring face. "What's this? A party?"

"Long story…I'll explain when we get there." Was his quick reply. The female gave a shrug as she followed behind Matie and Lexi. Cautiously taking a glance around before she brought the ramp up. When she got to the cockpit, Tommy was already in the driver's seat.

"We all set?" He asked her, hand hovering over a red button. She gave a silent nod, sliding into the co-pilot's seat.

"We're all locked up, tighter than a drum. I am sure it's just protocol on his part…but you know how he is…especially after the warning to late that ended up in the psycho rangers' release. He's just being careful."

Tommy drew out a long breath before answering.

"That's what makes him such a great Ranger."

A young teen paced the room of his apartment. Afraid for his life and the lives of his friends. More importantly, he had failed in his mission, and now he had to report without their treasure.

The treasure that would make them all invincible once the transfer is complete.

As his dark blue eyes pierced right through the mirror he had glanced up at. His reflection, in the oval glass, a mere skeleton of who he actually was. With a bumbled curse he reached into the back pocket of his black jeans. Grasping his phone. Pulling it out, he looked at it intently for a few seconds, unsure of himself.

Should he call her? Was it worth the yelling and arguing that would ensue? Was it worth the familiar threat that seemed to wrap around his very neck, and make him promise more gifts, to keep them all safe…?

Taking a shallow breath he made a decision. Flipping the cover up, his fingers nimbly punched in the code. He waited, totally fearful. But, when he finally heard the voice he'd dreaded, all excuses were erased from his memory.

"Is it done?" The person on the other side of the phone was quick to cut to the chase.

The male responded with the shattered cruelness that he'd had to play since he was five. With a shake of his head, he cleared his memories. Ones that had been repressed for so long came floating to the surface.

"No but-" He rushed in with an excuse. Hoping that his words would not be heard on deaf ears. Just as he was about to make his case, explain his next plan…idea…One that would work, this time. He would not fail her again. He could not. However, he was interrupted by the very one whom he'd called. Her voice brought him to a halt as the words, stopped in mid-sentence on his tongue. He felt his face flush red and his throat viciously closed up, as he was kept from breath. He stood in the middle of the kitchen, phone away from his ear and eyes closed as the hushed and evil voice on the other end spoke frankly.

"You pushed her to hard didn't you? How am I supposed to…?"

"M'Lady I" The male cut her off this time, before he could stop himself. He had found his voice, too late, it had seemed, "I can complete this mission."

"You better," She hissed, her voice crystal clear on the other end. He dually noted that she must be at the ball, for a chattering background noise could be heard, faintly. "You completed the first goal, easily. Why should this intolerable human be any different! I want them now! "

The lady sounding much like Ms. Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Immature and yet so daring. How could someone who'd been pampered all her life, rule anyone, let alone a whole army?

It was one of the confusions he had come to deal with; after all, it came from with the territory. He was her best, she never told him so, but she didn't have to. He was well aware of it.

Silently, he let out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd kept in. He hung on to each of her words with care. As if he could search for guidance in them.

"I have personally gathered the other one, you need only to take the final element and bring the thing, and I want to add it to my collection. That's the only way…we can win and corrupt. "

By this time her demeaning tone made the other's skin crawl. He wasn't entirely afraid of her. No, he'd never been, however, she caught him off guard. With her petty demands and wild ideas of how life would be if she'd just have her way.

But, that was his problem. His mind was always consistent with the exact present, never the future. His only future being to rule by her side, therefore, it required not an ounce of thought.

"I'll take care of her…but…" Now he shifted her focus, not to that of the pathetic girl, but of the last remaining victims. "What of the others? If my cover's blown, wouldn't it be more appropriate to send Mae or Sonya?"

Without pause the female gave a sharp answer.

"If you insist the want of backup you should have said so earlier!" A second flew by before she gave more to her answer, "Return to me…don't go after her. I will Send Sofia." Now, he could sense a sort of amusement connected to the way she spoke to him. "Mae will be…otherwise engaged. He must scout the last two victims. Now. I must return otherwise my guests will worry. Are we settled?"

Her tone implied innocence and authority. One that he'd heard too much of, as of late. His mind wandered, as he closed his phone. A smile crept up to his mouth; he no longer need fear defeat. He'd have revenge, once she was taken. Sofia might disagree with his intentions, but that was not his problem. Sofia was an ally, nothing more, Siena however… He made a clicking noise as his tongue hit the back of his teeth. He brought forth the image of the girl he'd come close to in the past few weeks. Her cheerful disposition, sickened him, but it also filled a void he hadn't realized that he held. It was usually locked so deep inside him, that he'd forget it was there but not now: staring out from the apartment at the people down below, he understood that balance is what she gave him. With luck he'd have her and his precious weapon, gift wrapped within a month.

They were close, so close he felt sometimes when he dreamed he could sense the powers, just yet out of him and his friends' reach.

"In time," he told himself heavily, "just a little more time."

When the Astro Megaship landed, Lexi and Matie hurriedly walked the corridors to meet up with Tommy Oliver. Their footsteps matching one another as their identical protocol boots made resounding echoes on the metal underneath their feet. Passing a window, they both glanced outside, catching sight of the mass of people. The crowd stopped the two teens dead in their tracks. Un-amused, Matie and Lexi exchanged worried looks to one another, fore both were not overly fond of having attention put upon themselves.

Matie's mind raced, though his mind told him he had not as much to fear. He, he considered bitterly, would not be receiving as much attention as the daughter of two Rangers.

It didn't bother him in the way that it sounded. He loved his own family, and wasn't jealous of her inability to have what he'd been spoiled with. A complete family. One that didn't need to hide, in order to survive. It was a hard lesson for his friend to learn, one that Matie knew stress Lexi even to this day. He could see it in her eyes. Whenever, she glanced at him, he saw right through her careful façade. He saw the pain in her eyes, making them dull and lifeless. Seeing her Dad was supposed to make her better, but watching her now, it occurred to him, that it might only make life more unbearable. After all, when this was over, Tommy would be forced to leave her behind. The danger of them being known as father and daughter would in no other way get her killed.

Matie further walked down the road he'd planned out in his head. Considering, if her Mother found out the expedition at hand, she would limit Lexi to school grounds. For safety of course, but how long could Lexi be held before she turned her back on her parents. Disregarding their wishes.
If they kept up this routine, that's the road she would go down. A dangerous path, one that could lead to her own destruction. But, he then considered sadly, either way Lexi would be back at square one. Alone. Without either parents. She'd need Matie, just like she did for all these years.

He stared at the back of his best friend's head, intently watching her slowly react to all that was now happening around them. Noticing, as the light hit her hair, it seemed even lighter.

"At least she has me," He considered to himself. "Otherwise, she might've actually gone off the deep end."

Lexi watched the persons in white coats and dark uniforms. So comforted by the scene, she was lost in the illusion that this was a normal base of operations.

"I don't like this," Matie finally broke the silence. Lexi gave him a reassuring grin, her palm, tapping his shoulder.

"I wouldn't worry so much….I is sure my dad will explain…"

Matie saw the way her eyes danced when she spoke of Tommy. A bad sign, she was getting comfortable with a ghost. As he'd previously put out, that's all Tommy would be in the end. He'd leave his daughter to protect her. Not knowing that, it would deem more hurt than If Tommy risked staying with her.

They both turned back towards the windows, she opened her mouth to speak but her very words, soft and short, were once more cut off by an arriving figure. A tall male with blonde hair, was dodging the masses to be first to greet them.

"Well I'll be…" Lexi exclaimed. "I should have known…"

Matie, still lost on first base, had not yet even seen the figure, patient within unnatural boundaries; come up to the platform.

"Known what?" Matie quipped, uneasy; he rubbed his chin with his fingers, trying to ease the tension set into his jaw.

"Why's it when we talk of Rangers there's much confusion after you speak." As usual he didn't receive a response. Instead, to his surprise, he felt Lexi gracefully lean back. Her back resting against him, in a silent plea for comfort. Her head resting, tiredly upon his shoulder.

The two didn't need to say what was on their mind, for it had been a mutual instantaneous thought. He held her gaze for a moment, before turning it to another object in the room.

Without uttering a word, Matie's strong arms were pulling her to him, keeping her safe from her fears; but not his. His would be confirmed only too soon. He cleared his throat;

"I suppose we're going to lose you now…" Sadness wrapped around both. "To them…"

Tommy wanted to bounce out of his seat the moment the ship was on the ground. Straining the nervous energy he manually began shutting off the engines and placing the safety brakes on. For a moment, as he thought of whom he brought into this situation, he became paralyzed. As his hand lingered on the arm of his chair. Fingers drummed against the black metal. He was so focused he almost hadn't heard his friend by his side.

"Tommy," The blonde female spoke rapidly, "I think we better get going…I don't like the look on Andros' face. I think it's become worse."

Worse? That word struck him into action. "How could this get any worse? "

Without stopping a moment he bounded out of the chair. Instantly the door slid to reveal his daughter and Matie. Both had jumped at the very sound of a door opening. Matie, still showing shock on his face, was unfolding his arms around Lexi. Placing them back as they'd been minutes ago, at his sides.

Lexi straightened as her Dad came into the room, a face of stone; she pretended to be more interested in the going ons, below. Tommy chuckled to himself silently, amused at their own naivety. Assuring himself, he'd have a talk with Lexi later, after his briefing with Andros.

"Come on guys, let's get a move on." His hand on each of their shoulders, he gave a gentle push towards the ramp that had been unfolded.

Through the mist of the early morning, Siena sat on a sidewalk. Cell, dead in her hands and useless. To late she had remembered that her friend had gone camping with her boyfriend for a couple days and wouldn't be home until at the very least tomorrow.

Her damp hair disheveled and all askew, clung to her face. As she sat, legs bent, arms around them, shivering in the cold atmosphere. Her mind almost gone, from sleep deprivation. The dark circles that'd formed around her eyes artistically mixed with the reds from crying all night. Every sound made her jump in fright. Not one to be left alone for long she was in all decisiveness a rather spoiled teen.

However, right now she was angry and sad and confused. Mostly she was confused. Kevin had never been so pushy since they started to go out, these past four months. She'd found him calm, real, certainly not overbearing. So what had changed? That was a question Siena didn't know the answer to. For if she had, there's no doubt she wouldn't have believed the possibility of all that was going on and would soon be made known.