Author's notes -- Koulagirl, that's fine. As long as you're still enjoying the show, I'm happy :). Onto chapter five we go (couple of big clues to the killer's identity contained within)...

Chapter Five

"Damn it," I said, glancing around the Central Chamber, "we had the perfect opportunity to bring him down, and we missed it. Again."

Teresa turned to me. "Well that teleporting between shadows is a tricky thing to get around," she replied. "And we still don't know the first thing about the guy, so it's not like he'd listen to us anyway."

"And what did Fury mean that 'injustice' will burn?" asked Ian.

I shrugged. "At least we know we'll have another shot," I said. "Even if he is planning something particularly nasty."

"And he's angry as heck," noted Scott.

Two teleportation trails suddenly blazed down through the roof, and Jason and Tommy materialised in the centre of the room, demorphing a second later.

Sarah turned to them. "How are they?"

"All the victims are fine," Jason nodded. "One of them had passed out from smoke inhalation, but the paramedics managed to revive her." Jason looked to me. "Good work with the fast rescue."

"Thanks," I replied. "I'm just glad I made it in time and they're all okay. Pity we didn't do so well with Fury."

"Well he might've gotten away," Jason replied, "but at least we prevented him from killing anyone."

Brendan nodded. "We were just saying that if it wasn't for his shadow-trick, we'd have had him."

"Yeah," agreed Kim. "That's definitely a totally unfair advantage. We know he'll be back tomorrow night, can't we just, I don't know, turn the lights on before he shows up or something...?"

Jason and Billy turned to each other, the same idea suddenly occurring to them both. "Kimberly, that's brilliant," smiled Jason. "Billy, can you make it happen?"

The Blue Ranger nodded. "Affirmative," he said. "It may take time to construct the apparatus to be mobile, which I assume would be preferable for tactical reasons, but we have a twenty-three hour window before Fury's next likely appearance, so it's certainly probable."

"That's a yes," replied Trini, noting Jason's raised brow.

Jason nodded. "Awesome," he replied, and looked around the room. "I don't suppose anybody managed to catch his wallet while we were fighting or anything...?"

Standing at the side of the room, Sarah looked up. "Guys," she began, glancing around the room, "this is just an idea, but I think we're looking at this all wrong. Something Fury said tonight, about the law being a 'toothless tiger', it made me stop and think. There's more to his crime-spree than we first figured."

"There is?" asked Zac.

Sarah nodded. "Yeah. These murders are personal to Fury - this is a vendetta, I agree. But everything he's done so far, leaving the victims in public places, fighting off the twelve of us, and that threat he made tonight - he's aiming for some kind of bigger picture. He isn't just some crazed citizen fulfilling his civic duty to act where the law has failed. He's acting because the law has failed. This retribution, it's not against criminals but against the legal system itself."

"Are you sure...?" I asked.

"I am now. Singling these people out, all of them well-known for escaping justice - we recognised the first four by name alone, remember? - making a spectacle out of them, punishing them, he's demonstrating the failure of the system. And I'd be willing to bet, just like it failed him."

By now, everybody was listening, and the room was silent. "Alpha," Sarah began, "I think we can narrow down our suspect list even more to anybody who's been seriously wronged by the legal system. People imprisoned wrongly, or who suffered at the hands of a criminal who got away with it, that kind of thing."

"Sarah, you're right," said Scott. "That makes perfect sense."

Trini nodded. "Definitely. The police keep most of their records on computer these days, so it shouldn't take long to hack into their system, or even to do a search for names in recent news," she said. "Alpha, if you can pull up the suspect list, Billy and I can help Sarah see who fits the new profile."

Brendan grinned. "Damn we're good. I wonder if the FBI is hiring this week..."

"Redefining our parameters should take approximately twenty minutes," said Billy, as Alpha turned to the console nearest him and began typing. "We'll let everybody know when we're finished," and Sarah joined Billy, Trini and Alpha at the computer, and the four of them began comparing notes.

I saw the doors slide open and several of the Rangers head out into the hallway, probably heading into the training room or outside for some fresh air. Scott was standing over near the doors, going through more information on Aesma Daeva, and I wandered over to him.

"Hey Scott," I said, and he turned to me, "I'm just gonna go for a walk and get some air. Can you make sure nobody locks me outside or something?"

Scott laughed. "That's okay, Teresa went outside before. I'll just come and get you both when we're done in here."

"Thanks," I replied, and left the Central Chamber.

A gentle breeze was drifting in through the two stone doors, and outside the night air was cool and fresh. A million points of light blanketed the desert floor below in a soft, silver glow, and the full moon had just risen behind one of the peaks on the horizon. Nights were silent out here. Looking around, I saw Teresa sitting on the ground with her back against the building a few steps away from the open doors, gazing up at the sky.

"Counting stars?" I asked, walking over.

Teresa turned to me and smiled, starlight reflecting in her eyes. "Just thinking," she replied. "It's nice out here."

I sat down beside her. "I know what you mean. Solving our mystery and saving the world, or more general pondering?"

Teresa laughed. "More general. I'm not that good," she replied, and looked back up at the stars. I didn't want to disturb the silence and didn't reply. We sat there for a few moments, lost in the quiet. A flock of desert bats swooped past above us, their noisy screeches the only sound in the night.

I turned back to Teresa. "Mind if I ask you something?"

"No, go right ahead."

"It's just, if it wasn't for you, about half of us wouldn't even be bothering with this Fury guy," I began. "Why are you so passionate about this one? I just, I don't think I've ever seen you so driven before."

Teresa nodded. "That's a fair question," she said. "Tell me, what's the one single memory of being a Ranger that's going to stick in your mind forever?"

I took a second to think. "Morphing for the very first time," I said, picturing it as I spoke. "You and Aaron were on one side, Sarah and Scott were on the other, and Jason was standing in front of me. And then when I opened the morpher, it was like I was on fire, you know, my heart was racing. It felt like I'd just grabbed hold of a thousand volt cable or something, which according to Billy and Alpha is actually more or less what happened. What about you?"

Teresa replied without hesitation. "It was that guy in Taloqan, the one we couldn't save," she said softly. "I can still see him lying there. When we got home, I just kept thinking, what if we'd gotten there five minutes or ten minutes earlier? Maybe, I don't know, maybe we could've saved him. That's the kind of thing we're supposed to stop from happening, right?" Teresa paused, looking out over the desert. "I guess when I promised Jason I'd be strong, I was promising myself that I wouldn't let something like that happen again. And I'm going to do everything I can to keep that promise. Ian said it himself this morning - one life lost is one too many."

I looked away then, suddenly ashamed. "I'm glad somebody's the heart of this team," I said with a small smile, looking back to the White Ranger.

Teresa smiled, and was about to reply when we heard the gravel crunch behind us.

"Hey," called Scott, stepping out into the night. "They sent me out to get you, we're almost done inside."

"Thanks," Teresa said, and climbing to our feet, we followed Scott back into the Command Centre, the huge stone doors closing automatically behind us. Billy, Trini, Sarah and Alpha were standing by a console to the side of the room, while everybody else was standing in a semi-circle around them.

"That's everybody," said Scott, as we entered. "I don't suppose you've narrowed it down to something like Colonel Mustard in the dining room with the lead pipe?"

"Not yet," smiled Trini.

"I still say Mustard was a CIA plant," muttered Brendan.

Jason laughed, but shook his head. "Anyway," he said, "How did you guys go?"

"The computer is still printing our reconfigured data," Billy replied. "But we utilised the new angle Sarah suggested to redefine our parameters - anyone with a decidedly negative experience with the law. People wrongly or even rightly imprisoned, people who suffered from violent crime while the offenders were never punished, those sorts of details. We ignored minor infringements like parking fines and the like." He paused, then looked to Jason and added quickly, "Except when the suspect had a history of violence or psychiatric health issues. I assumed those factors may have some bearing on the case. We also included judges, lawyers and other people working within the system who may be frustrated at its failures. It was only an idea though, we don't have to..."

"No," said Jason, nodding, "no Bill, that's really great."

"Yeah," I agreed. "I never would've thought of that."

Billy smiled, adjusting his glasses. "Thank you."

"So," began Trini, picking up the stack of print-outs and handing it to Kimberly, standing silently beside her. "We've got a new suspect list to work from."

"Ayeyiyi!" said Alpha. "We'd narrowed down your search to fifty-seven people, and taking into account the suspects you eliminated today, the total is thirty-six. It's still a lot..."

"But thirty-six is better than a hundred," nodded Sarah. "Wow guys, my dentist is on this list."

"The florist who lives across the road from me is on this list," added Zac. "The high-school guidance councillor too. I can't believe it could be some of these people."

"That's probably what they say about the twelve of us and the Power Rangers," smiled Tommy.

"Well, we've already divided the list into specific groups, depending on where they live," said Trini. "And we can keep narrowing them down tomorrow, right?" She turned to Kim beside her for affirmation, but the Pink Ranger didn't reply, staring silently at a point on the ground. "Kim? What's wrong?"

Kimberly looked up quickly, and seeing us all, waved her hand. "Nothing guys, I'm cool."

"No way Kim," said Brendan. "You've been quiet all day, and that alone tells us the world is likely to end. Again." Kimberly smiled. "So c'mon, hit us."

"Okay," she began, glancing earnestly around the room before looking up to Zordon. "Listening to those libertarian guys today, it got me thinking. Like, what is it that makes us that different from this Fury guy?"

"The fact that we're not complete psychopaths?" ventured Brendan.

I nodded. "Yeah Kim, you shouldn't listen to those kind of people anyway."

"I'm totally serious," she said, turning to us. "We saddle up and kill monsters without a second thought, all the time. We don't obey any laws, we don't answer to the police or anybody. I mean, what's stopping us from one day acting like this guy?"

"You mean," began Tommy gently, "what's stopping us from becoming this guy?"

Kim nodded, then looked up to Zordon. "Exactly."

Watching from within his plasma tube, Zordon nodded slowly. "I understand your concerns, Kimberly," he began. "The twelve of you use your powers to destroy threats as quickly and as efficiently as possible, often without allowing them a second chance." He paused. "And I dare say some of you even enjoy it," he added, glancing quickly to where Zac, Brendan and I were standing. "It is indeed a fine line you walk, Rangers."

Sarah smiled weakly. "Thanks for the affirmation, Zordon."

The sage returned her smile. "I wasn't finished," he said, looking back to Kim. "You've told me your troubles, and I thank you for your trust. But now, if I may ask you one question in return - why?"

Silence followed. I'm pretty sure nobody quite knew how to answer Zordon, so he continued. "Why, Rangers, why do you fight and destroy these monsters? Why do you devote so much time and energy to training yourselves for battle? Why did Peter and Jason fight Rita Repulsa to prevent her from opening the Gateway, and why were the rest of you so determined to defeat the grey warrior? And just this week, why did the twelve of you unanimously decide to lead the rescue effort into Taloqan?"

There was another moment of silence in the room. It was like we'd all been given an on-the-spot exam we hadn't studied for.

"With the earthquake at least," said Trini, "we were the only ones who could've gotten there in time."

Zac nodded. "Not to mention, the only ones with the kind of resources that could carry out something that big and that fast."

"Yeah," agreed Scott. "And when the grey warrior came after Ian, we had to do something. We couldn't just sit back and not help a friend in danger."

"Exactly," I nodded. "We did all those things because nobody else could." And with that statement, the twelve of us felt a realisation dawn in our minds. "We did them because we had to," I said softly.

"Precisely," said Zordon. "All the actions you take as Rangers are because there is nobody else on Earth who can. You act, you fight and you destroy, only because necessity demands it. You protect those in dire need, while this vigilante acts out of hatred and vengeance, a want and love of killing - this separates him from you. Even if your respective methods were similar to his, the simple reason of why you go into battle should make all the difference in the world." He paused, before continuing. "Responsibility, Rangers, often means not doing exactly what you're capable of doing."

Kim smiled and looked up to our mentor. "Thanks Zordon, it means a lot to hear that."

Sarah nodded. "Now that was an affirmation," she grinned.

"You're welcome," the sage replied. "Furthermore, there is no existing body on Earth that has jurisdiction regarding what you twelve fight against, hence the fact you are not subject to any military or government body is a strength rather than a weakness. Now, twice in two nights you've thwarted Fury's plans, and this will only make him a far more dangerous adversary tomorrow. But there is nothing more for us to do tonight. Everything else can wait until the morning."

We all nodded, seeing the sense in this. I figured everybody was pretty drained, and Zordon was right, a break would give us all thinking time. Wishing each other, "Good night," everybody began teleporting out in streaks of bright light, but as I reached for my communicator, Jason tapped me on the shoulder.

"Hey," he began. "You want to head into the training room and do a bit of sparring? I think I just think better..."

"When you're pounding the stuffing out of something?" I asked.

Jason laughed. "Yeah, pretty much."

We told Alpha and Zordon we'd still be in the Command Centre if they needed us, and leaving the Central Chamber, we walked out into the hallway and down away from the entrance of the building to a door on the right. The sparring area inside was a wide circular room under a high ceiling, with soft lighting, white walls and several weapon racks over on one side. The floor itself always amazed me. Zordon had said it was made from textiles not found on Earth - it was solid to stand on, but felt far softer when you landed on it headfirst.

I dropped my backpack by the door and followed Jason over to the centre of the room.

"Don't break too many bones," I said. "It's been a long day."

Jason smiled. "I'll be careful," and without waiting any longer, swung high with a left jab. I dodged his fist and he aimed low with a judo chop - I blocked the move, batted his fist away, and blocked his other arm with my forearm. "It's just, I don't know..." He withdrew his left arm and attacked with his right - I knocked it away, struck his left wrist with my right and stepped around a chest-high swipe. "It's strange, why he's doing what he's doing."

He followed me to the side, aiming high with his left fist and swinging low with his right. I blocked both moves with one arm and jabbed my fist towards his solar plexus, but he stepped aside, catching my fist and spinning my arm away from him. I somersaulted to the side, forcing him to let go of my arm, and regained my footing.

"You think he's got a motive other than 'Fear my wrath evildoers'?" I asked, charging back towards him. He nimbly stepped around a high kick, ducked under a wide roundhouse sweep, struck away my left arm and landed a stinging blow to my shoulder.

"First blood," he grinned.

"Keep 'em coming," I said, and we continued trading blows. Sparring with Jason was impossible to describe. Everything a spinning blur, punches and kicks rolling back and forth, neither of us trying to inflict real damage despite the ease with which we could have. He aimed high with both fists - I turned to the side and dodged between them both, slapped his fists away and tried for a roundhouse punch that was promptly danced around. I spun back around aiming a sharp left backhand, but he smashed away my hand and landed another blow on my shoulder, before a tap to my chest sent me stumbling.

"Not unusual in that way," he said, as I recovered. "His motive is pretty much 'kill the badguys', I agree, I just..." I leaped forward and attacked again, raining down blow-after-blow which Jason blocked and batted away. "It's like he's still trying to do the right thing, despite murdering these people." He caught my fist and slapped it aside, landing a blow on my other arm and forcing me on the defensive. "And there's gotta be a reason for that, some kind of moral core that we can appeal to."

I hopped back, balancing on one foot briefly, before leaping forward, kicking high and finding nothing but air. Jason attacked again as I landed. I dodged a high punch and blocked a left judo chop, but was too slow to counter his right as he landed a solid blow to my ribs and sent me crashing to the ground out of breath.

Jason hung back as I slowly climbed to my feet. "C'mon Pete, why are you losing?" he asked.

I shrugged, panting. Always the teacher... "Because you're beating the crud out of me?"

Jason smiled. "Yes and no. Think about how I've been fighting."

Realising he must have been referring to something, I stopped and briefly played the last few minutes back in my head. Jason was right - I couldn't remember him using his feet or legs at all. "You're only attacking using your upper body," I said.

He nodded. "And you're trying to best me using brute force. It's not gonna happen. All else being equal, you're still four years younger, and not as strong. Using brute force against someone with a strength advantage will get you nowhere. Remember that," he said, raising his hands to emphasise the point. "If you ever demorph mid-battle, you're still only eleven, and strength alone won't win a fight."

I suddenly realised what he was telling me. "Like Fury. We can't beat him with sheer power, can we?"

Jason shook his head. "No, we can't. But that isn't everything we've got," he said, then smiled mischievously. "Now c'mon, attack me again."

I took a step forward then stopped, a smile of realisation crossing my face. "No," I said. "You attack me."

The Red Ranger grinned. "Lesson one - never fight on your opponent's terms. Always force them to fight on yours," and he slowly advanced.

"I've been a Ranger for months, and just now you're getting to lesson one?" I asked.

He laughed, and resumed the attack. Reaching me, he swung high - I countered the attack, blocking his fist and striking his other hand away. He swung a high roundhouse punch, but I stepped back, drawing him towards me. He realising what I was doing - I saw him smile - and he swung again, but I'd been right. He was only using his arms and hands, attacking with punches and chops, barely moving his feet and leaving his lower body unguarded.

I ducked under a high punch and landed several rapid blows on his stomach. He grunted and struck at my fists but I danced back out of range. Following me forward, he attacked with his right, but I spun to the side and knocked him back with a low kick. Striking away a blow with one foot, I retaliated with the other, and without slowing down, I dodged a final swipe, spun around on the spot and plowed my foot into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him and taking him to the ground.

Even as he fell, Jason was laughing. "By jove, I think he's got it!" he cried.

I smiled, offering him my hand and helping him to his feet. "I didn't get you too hard, did I?"

He shook his head. "Not at all, that was a great combination," he said. "Skill beats power any day of the week, never forget it." He wiped the sweat from his brow, and looked me in the eye. "Tomorrow we're gonna confront Fury again, and we're definitely gonna be on his kill-list. We've only got one day to stop him." He paused, and smiled. "And you know what? I think we might just do it."