Wes, Jen, Eric and all other characters from Power Rangers belong to Disney/Saban. I am using them without permission, however I have not and don't expect to make money from this.
Gaby, Chris, and Proteus are mine.

Rated T: mild language, violence, sexual references, and danger to a child.

A/N: This is a sequel to 'Reversals of Fortune' and part of my AU 'Year of Time' series. It can, however, stand alone, with most of the background from the series being mentioned along the way.

Reviews are always appreciated.

Tapestry

Battle

- - -

He could see them below, Philips, a couple of maids and the cook, in a ragged cluster on the front lawn; Jen closer to the house as if reluctant to leave, arms wrapped around herself as she looked up at their various flyers. She hung back while they landed and ran up as all nine of them, morphed, leaped out to the ground.

"Katie, Lucas, Trip... What are you doing here? Is this the surprise?" she asked, looking confused as her teammates passed her on the way to the house, along with their counterparts. "Wes, what's going on? Who are they?"

"They're from the dimension where all of us were the opposite sex. You met Erica there. That's Lucie, Kevin, and Trix."

"Where are they going?" She turned to go after them.

"There's a mutant from that other dimension that attacked you and the baby while we were there," he said, reaching to grasp her shoulders.

"Attacked? What do you mean?"

"Possessed! Controlled! He's some kind of invisible thing without a body - and he's inside our son."

"I don't understand..."

"I don't either. All I know is we have to help them get him out! Save our baby!" He let go and started after the others, towards the house.

"Wes, what...?" He could hear her footsteps following as he dashed through the front door before they were drowned out by a crash and, an instant later, a scream from upstairs.

- - -

-You have no choice.-

Chris took another step away from the crib and the baby lying there staring at her in that coldly inhuman way, then flinched fearfully as she heard a shout from outside and the sound of feet pounding up the stairs. Instinctively she ran to lock the door.

-It's them. I can feel them. They've come for me. And for you.-

The door rattled, and then there was a heavy thump as someone banged on it. A man's voice shouted, "We know you're in there! Open the door! Now!"

"No!" she cried, hands over her ears. "Leave me alone!"

"Open this door or we'll break it down!"

Chris backed away, bumped into something, and looked down to find herself next to the crib.

"We're coming in!" There was another, louder bang, and a splintering sound. A long, deep crack appeared in the door.

"No... No... What should I do?" she gasped.

-Let me in, Chris, and together we will have nothing to fear.-

The voice in her head was so strong and reassuring. It promised protection and safety - and more. Power. The strength to fight if necessary, and escape. There was the thud of something heavy hitting the door again. A loud crash as it burst apart and a crowd of helmeted, menacing figures appeared. One of them swung a fist, sending the remains of the door flying, and stepped through, coming at her.

"Do it!" Chris held out her hand. The baby's eyes met hers, and something seemed to flow from him to her, a wave of energy so electric, so powerful, so overwhelming that she screamed as it washed over her mind, blending with her, becoming one with her until there was no more him - and no more her.

- - -

Eric had stepped aside to let Kevin and Katie break in the door, but he was right behind them, feeling a moment of irritation as Erica bumped him and squeezed through at the same time and forgetting it when he saw what was happening.

Chris was standing over the crib, a hand outstretched. Her eyes were closed, her body tight and face strained. As he hesitated for just a split-second, a flash, like lightning, seemed to roll over her from the spot where her fingertips touched the baby. For a moment she was outlined in brilliant, crawling threads of light. Her head rolled back, and she screamed.

"Freeze!" Eric shouted, pulling his Quantum Defender from its holster and moving to where he had a clear shot. Erica, also with weapon drawn, went the other way, so they had a good crossfire. Chris stood still as the eerie light faded, eyes still closed, apparently unaware of what was going on around her.

"What happened?" Lucie called from the door. Eric turned his head and saw the others were all inside, with Wes just stepping through and Jen, still unmorphed, arriving behind him.

"Proteus... He's gone into her!" Trix said. She fumbled at her belt, and Eric saw the gleam of the metal tube that she had told them would capture and imprison Proteus.

"No you don't!" It was Chris, but the voice was very different from her usual soft tones; now it was harsh, loud, vibrating with power and filled with an unearthly arrogance. Her eyes snapped open, their hazel color transformed into a red-gold glow. With a quick gesture she held out an arm, pointing at the female green Ranger. Another scream split the air as an arc of energy leapt between them and Trix flew backwards into the wall, the tube spinning from her hand.

"Blast her!" Erica shouted. Eric saw the others summoning their weapons and turned back to the enemy, dropping to one knee and aiming.

There was an anguished cry from Jen and, "Don't shoot!" Wes shouted, taking a few steps forward.

Chris had a savage smile on her face, and the baby in her arms.

"Put the kid down, Proteus," Lucas said in a steady voice.

"That's right; can't harm the innocent, can you?" Chris said, smirking. "Morals do get in one's way, don't they? Very inconvenient. I'm glad I gave them up centuries ago."

"My baby!" Jen ran into the middle of the room and stopped, eyes wide with fear. "What's happening? What are all of you doing?"

"Chris, please, give me my son," Wes said, edging closer.

"But I'm not the one putting him in danger." Chris - Proteus - was speaking in a softer, persuasive tone. Her eyes flashed. "It's all of them; they're going to shoot your defenseless little baby down. I'm trying to protect him. Help me!"

Jen swung around to face the rest of them, her face twisting into a snarl of rage. "Leave them alone!" she shouted. Her arms came up, a hand touching her morpher. There was another blaze of light as she transformed into the pink Ranger, summoned her blaster and leveled it in their direction.

"Jen, get out of the way!" Eric said.

"No! You're not getting near my baby!"

"Jen!" Wes turned to her and then back to Chris, obviously uncertain. "You don't understand!"

"I understand enough! All of you, get out! Get out of my house and stop trying to hurt my baby!"

"Don't do this!" Wes went to her, reaching for her shoulders. She stepped back, shrugging him off angrily. "It's Chris who's putting the baby in danger. Holding him hostage. Think! You can see that, can't you?"

"I... But..."

"Enough!" Chris's eyes gleamed again with hellish light.

A crown of that unearthly lightning crackled above her head and then shot out, hitting both Jen and Wes. They staggered. As Eric started for them, they straightened jerkily, as if controlled by strings, and brought up their weapons - to aim at him. Eric dived at them. A flash of red and black was Erica, also jumping at his friends. A blast struck him glancingly, sending a flash of pain through him before he hit Wes in a tackle. Erica had grabbed Jen, and the four of them went down in a tangle of struggling limbs.

He was only vaguely aware of what was happening a few feet away - Chris had the baby in one arm and the other hand out and was shooting those bolts of energy as blue and yellow forms charged her. Lucie and Kevin were hit and went down. Katie and Lucas, right behind them, reached her. Katie grabbed her arm and twisted it; Lucas dived for the baby as he fell from her grip. Trip jumped in, attacking from behind, as Trix circled with her tube-weapon ready in her hand. Lucie and Kevin were back in the fight, trying to get close.

Then they were all thrown back, some crashing into the walls and some skidding across the floor, as a wall of lightning erupted around Chris. With a wild laugh she pointed at the window, sending a bolt which burst it into flying shards of glass and wood. In another second, she had leaped though, and out of the house.

In the sudden quiet, they all stared numbly at the gaping hole in the wall, and then looked around. The once pretty and cheerful nursery was demolished. The crib was smashed. The only sound was their own ragged breathing - and the rising howl of a terrified infant.

"My baby..." Jen gasped. She struggled to her feet and demorphed. Kevin and Lucas stirred, rising to reveal the child they had protected with their bodies. Jen went to him, knelt to examine him quickly, then picked him up and held him tightly. Wes demorphed and joined them, enveloping both in his arms. The baby's screams faded into whimpers and hiccups, and Eric could hear Jen murmuring softly, "It's all right... It's all right..."

He got to his feet and held a hand down to Erica, who was shoving a fallen piece of furniture off herself. She hesitated, and then took it and let him help her up. "Nice teamwork," he said. "For a girl, of course."

"Not bad yourself. For a jerk, of course."

- - -

"What happened back there?" Lucie was asking as they ran out the front door and paused for a moment, looking for any sign of the creature Chris had become.

It was like a dark spot in Trip's mind - or like an unpleasant sound - a vibration of malevolence and power in the distance. He turned, searching, exchanged a glance with Trix and nodded. "This way," he said.

"Proteus left the baby and went into Chris," Trix said as they started off at a run.

"Yeah, we figured that part out. But what's with the lightning? He never had that kind of power before!"

"No..." Her voice was hesitant. "But now he's in the body of his own double. Joining their powers together."

"So he's using her powers along with his. And it's added up to something new," Trip said.

"Right. They've... changed into something else... And they're still changing... I can feel it."

"Whatever they've changed into, we've got to stop them before they get to the city!" Eric called as he charged into the lead, Erica right on his heels.

They caught up at the outskirts of town, in a pleasant street lined with shops. Chris had moved fast - faster than any human woman should be able to run. Maybe they had tired her out - but Trip wasn't inclined to believe that as she whirled and stood to face them in the middle of the street, a grin on her face, eyes gleaming red-gold, and wisps of electricity curling from her fingertips.

They stopped, and formed a line, waiting as Chris made no move and civilians, perhaps remembering the mutant battles of a few years ago, scrambled for safety. Then Lucie stepped out in front.

"Ready to give up?" she called.

"What do you think?"

"Thought we'd give you the chance. Doesn't make much difference, though." Lucie turned her head. "Trix?"

The female green Ranger had her metal tube in her hand. She stepped forward, the others advancing to cover her as she moved closer, holding it out, and took hold of both ends and twisted it. A low hum sounded from the small containment device, and a pale, thin beam shot out and played over Chris, with no apparent effect.

"What's wrong?" Kevin hissed. "Why isn't it working?"

"I don't - I don't understand!" Trix twisted it again. "It - it can't get Proteus out!"

"Because he's not a separate person anymore!" Trip said with a flash of insight. "He's - he's fused with her!"

"Yes... It can't get him out because that's his body too, now! They've become one life-force! One mind, one person!"

"Then it looks like we have to do this the old-fashioned way," Erica growled. She and Eric both had their Defenders in their hands already, and now they raised them.

"You really think you can fight me?" With a shout, Chris swept her arms up. Bolts of lightning crackled from them, spiraling out, hitting cars, storefronts, windows. In an instant, the quiet street had become a whirlwind of explosions and flying glass.

Twin beams struck back from Eric and Erica, hitting her simultaneously. She staggered, recovered, laughed and swung an arm at them. A flash electrified them, knocking them to the ground. Katie and Kevin started for her, running shoulder to shoulder, and dodged another bolt. Lucas and Lucie circled, weapons blazing, their bursts meeting hers in a brilliant flare of energy. Trix and Trip leaped into the air together and dove at her, crying out as they were thrown back.

Then Eric and Erica were up again - but this time attacking their own teammates, yelling furiously as they charged side by side, Defenders firing. Trip barely managed to duck under a blast, and saw Katie fall. Kevin leaped to shield her. Trix got Eric with a quick shot which didn't seem to affect him. Then they were facing off again, this time with Eric and Erica backing towards Chris, their Defenders trained on the rest of them.

"Erica, what are you doing?" Lucie shouted.

"You came here to attack us! To destroy the city! But we won't let you!"

"Eric!" Trip called. "Don't do this! We're your friends!"

"You were never my friends!"

"But we are!"

They all swung around at the sound of a new voice, startled as two form, red and pink, leaped from a rooftop towards Chris. They landed gracefully and advanced on her. "Don't even try to control us again," Wes growled.

"It won't work a second time," Jen confirmed. She pointed accusingly. "You possessed my baby. Tried to turn us against our friends."

"And now you're doing the same thing to them!" Wes said, turning to Eric and Erica who were both visibly hesitating, their weapons lowered. "But it's not working, is it? You still can't control someone against their will!"

"Idiots! It doesn't matter! I'll destroy you all myself!" Chris's face flooded with hate. She raised her arms again with a crackle of electricity.

"Get her!" Erica whirled, aimed, and fired, joined by Eric a second later.

Wes and Jen were ready; they rushed Chris, lifting her and tossing her down onto the ground. She began to get up. All of the Rangers began to fire, forming a ring, moving in, watching her writhe in the withering blasts of energy. Trip could almost feel her pain and fury... With a start he realized he probably was sensing her projected emotions. He did his best to ignore it and kept blasting until he saw her collapse, the strange golden glow dying from her eyes, and felt her consciousness fading.

"That's enough!" Trix cried. "She's beaten."

They stood staring down as she knelt and quickly checked their captive. "Still alive," she said. "We'll have to take Chris back with us, along with Proteus. Maybe we'll find a way to separate them someday, and return her. For now we'd better get her into a Time Force prison before she wakes up."

"Right." Trip raised his arm and pressed the series of buttons on his morpher which would trigger the dimensional transfer for them. "It should only take a minute," he said. "This will transport you back to your own dimension."

"And our timeship is waiting there," Lucie said. "Power down."

In a moment, they were all demorphed. Lucie, Kevin, Trix, and Erica faced their counterparts.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you," Lucie said, holding out a hand to Lucas.

"For me too. Interesting to see myself as a woman."

"Yeah, I'll say," Kevin said, shaking hands with Katie.

"I hope we'll meet again someday. Under better circumstances."

"This has been great. Meeting you, I mean," Trip said, looking at Trix with a sudden shyness.

She gave him his own smile back. "Yeah. And maybe we'll see each other again. In our dreams."

"Can't believe she got to us," Erica said, hands on hips. "Good thing you're such a stubborn bastard."

"And that you're a stubborn bi... uh, woman," Eric responded. "It's been real."

"And there's the dimension-hole, right on schedule!" Lucas said.

They were all looking up at the whirlpool of light forming above them, so none of them saw. Trip felt it, and so did Trix. They both gasped at the same instant, and cried a warning - but too late.

Chris was awake, on her knees on the scorched pavement, her fists almost hidden inside balls of snapping electricity. With a snarl, she opened them. Energy blasted out, throwing them all back to sprawl on the rubble-strewn ground.

Trip groped for his morpher, struggling to morph, the light of transformation blending with Chris's lightning and the diamond sparkle of the half-formed dimension-hole. Dazed, he saw her stand - red hair billowing in some intangible wind, eyes glowing as bright as the afternoon sun, face alive with unimaginable power and malice in an image he knew he would never forget. Impossibly, she rose up into the air, floating, now staring down at them, arms outspread, ready for a final, deadly attack...

The dimensional portal began to lower above her, meeting her airborne form. There was just a light, at first, a shining light that seemed to show through her, outlining her in fire before it consumed her body in a blaze so bright it was painful to look at even through the helmet visor. Trip winced, and ducked his head. When he looked again, the light was fading. He saw a vague and misty outline, a billowing cloud that looked almost like a giant brain - before it broke into specks and sparkles and was gone, along with the dimension-hole - and Chris.

He got to his feet, aware of the others gathering around. "What just happened?" Katie asked after a few silent moments.

"She was caught in the dimensional transfer before it was complete," Trip said softly.

"Did she go to our dimension?" Erica asked.

"No... I don't think so."

"She seemed to - to sort of disintegrate. Like she was torn apart. I could feel it," Trix said with a shudder. "Horrible."

"Then she was destroyed?"

Trip looked up again. "Destroyed? I wonder..."

- - -

TBC...