"Emperor Gruumm, your plan is coming into order. We will be with you shortly," announced Charlie as she spoke through a holograph image communication transmitter.

"Good. How did he react when he learned that his prized warriors were against him?" He would have loved to see the look on Doggie Crugers face when his enemy learned he had been betrayed by his very own.

"Commander Cruger is a fool. He didn't suspect a thing," laughed Charlie.

Gruumm laughed. "Good. That old dog has gotten blind in his old age." Gruumm felt his laughter growing, he had sent Charlie and the others to the academy in their mid teens. He had instructed them to behave and work themselves up in the ranks of squad with the intentions that the present Ranger team would select the children he sent in as his Trojan Horse. SPD and Doggie Cruger played right into his hands.

"Yes. We'll be with you soon, my master." Charlie bowed her head.

Gruumm closed the communication link. For the past twenty years he had been planning this, soon he would have control of the whole universe. He had already taken out Sirius and several other planets, only a few hundred remained, and Earth was his biggest threat.

Cruger had gone to Earth soon after his him had been destroyed and had taken over the SPD development, taking the role of lead Commander SPD earths base. It was a move Gruumm had expected; but it was not time to play his hand. Earth would have to wait. They weren't ready yet. Of course he was displeased, but with the great thought of corruption he knew he needed someone on the inside, someone he could trust, so he waited until they were old enough and then planted bait. And no one would suspect a thing, they were mere teenagers secretly working for Gruumm.

It had been the plan all along to send the five to one of the SPD Academy's. It made perfect since to send them to earth, exactly where Doggie Cruger would be. It would be killing two birds with one stone; so he sent Charlie, Tusk, Cliff and the twins Kane and Kim, but he also sent a sixth, Dru a couple years after the five. But Dru had turned on him and devoted himself to Broodwing.

And the day had come. The day he had been waiting for all these years had finally come. Cruger had just moments ago learned that his own Rangers had been against him. He could almost see the look on Cruger's face, the disappointment, betrayal and grave fear.

"Gruumm, I'm bored," whined Mora as she walked into his chambers. "When can we destroy the humans?"

"Go back to your room, Mora!" he hissed irritated she had interrupted his thoughts.

"You're no fun!" she yelled as she stomped off.

Gruumm growled under his breath. She was a pain to deal with, but he needed her and it wasn't like he had problems controlling her. He never had. He always had been able to get her to do and believe whatever he said. And up until Omni gained control of Mora's mind he hadn't even used a spell. He never had used a spell to control any of the children he had collected over the years.

He grinned wickedly; Mora hadn't been the first child he had abducted. No, the first had been his greatest collection. He had his followers and spies all over the universe searching and when they found what they were searching for, he sent his army of Krybots to take them from their homes, killing their families. While they were young and innocent it was so easy to manipulate their minds to bend to his every word. The five no longer had memories of their past lives. Gruumm reminisced, going back some twenty years when the five had been taken from their homes….

….20 years ago, the year 2000

Aquastar

Aquastar was the home of the Quadalwalrus, a planet not far from Aquitar. Quadalwalruses had been known for their brute strength and powerful battle tactics, but were not dependant upon water like their cousin planet Aquitar.

The Quadalwalruses were born with four eyes. The four eyes gave them great focus on their surroundings, so they would always be prepared, always ready and on guard. But on one day they were not ready, at least not one group of Quadalwalruses, because they never suspected that one day someone would come and threaten their lives in ways they could never even imagine.

"What do you want?" cried a female Quadalwalus, as she watched as they beat her husband to death. Her husband, a great warrior, strong and true, had always had no problem winning a fight. But these Krybots, orange and blue, were unlike anything they have ever faced before. They had already killed her two eldest sons, and soon her husband would be dead, and she suspected soon after, her as well.

"Please tell me what you want," she pleaded with them. "I'll give you anything, just spare my youngest, Tusk." She wrapped her arms tightly around her young son Tusk, he was only three. "Please. I beg of you," she cried, as she watched as the orange headed one struck her husband with its sword.

The man she had loved, had three children with, who had once been a great warrior, fell to the ground as if he were nothing. They had beaten everything out of him, until there was nothing left. She watched in fear as they surrounded her, swords and blasters held up, all aiming at her.

"Mommy, I'm scared," cried Tusk, as he tightened his arms around her neck.

"It's going to be okay, honey." Even with four eyes, she could see no mercy in her captors. They had come here for one thing and that was to kill them all. She watched as the orange head raised his sword, getting ready to strike. She knew for sure she was going to die, no use in running. They were far too powerful for her to handle alone.

"Grab the boy!" ordered the orange head.

The blue heads grabbed a hold of Tusk's arms, ripping him right from his mother's arms. "What?" Her eyes lit up in fear, when she finally realized what they had come for; her son, her baby boy, Tusk. "No," she whimpered. "No, no, no… Please."

"Mommy!" yelled Tusk, as he struggled to get free and even at three he was showing the strength that his race had. He was beyond strong for his age.

"Can't you keep him under control? He's just a child!" the orange head yelled, as he was getting ready to make his attack.

"Sorry, but he's a lot stronger then he looks," replied one of the blue heads, as he and his comrades ganged up on the boy to overpower him.

"What do you want with him? He's just a little boy," the boys mother exclaimed. What could they possibly want with a child?

"That's none of your concern." The orange head then struck her with his sword. "Where you're going, it won't matter."

"No! Mommy!" cried Tusk watching as his mother dropped to the ground. He violently tried to get away and was almost succeeding. He was already proving that he was much stronger than his father and brothers combined. Tusk may very well be the strongest of his entire race.

The orange head then walked right up and faced Tusk and grabbed him by the neck. He could see the anger and fury in the boy's eyes. "Yes, feed off that anger, Tusk. Emperor Gruumm will be very pleased with you indeed, you'll make a fine addition to the collection."

Tusk's eyes then fell to his dead mother's body as one of her murderers lifted him up. He continued looking at her until he could see her no longer. The Krybots carried him away from his home and he watched as it faded away the farther he got, until he could see it no more.

Triforia

Triforia was the home of Trey, the Gold Ranger, one of the most powerful Rangers throughout the galaxy, or that was what was thought. On one horrible tragic day, Trey would learn that even he had his limits and could not always protect those in need that he swore an oath too.

The Lees had come across trouble, they and their three children. Unlike most Triforians, whose three selves were identical, their children were three separate people. There had been a third; Kane and Kim had a brother, Kai. The Triforians had believed that the three children were meant for great things, but they never suspected that because of their great difference from their kind, that it would only bring misery.

Trey had gotten word that the Lee family was in trouble and had rushed to their aid. He stood in front of the Lees who were protecting their three children, only two years old.

"You are not welcome here! I order you to go back from where you came from. Otherwise, there will be hell to pay," announced Trey, as he got into his fighting stance, ready for whatever these new visitors had to throw at him.

"Our pursuit is not with you, Gold Ranger. Leave now or we will be forced to kill you."

Trey stepped forward. "Then I guess you're going to have to kill me, because I'm not leaving."

"So be it." The orange head waved over the blue heads and two more of the orange heads. "Kill him," he instructed.

The Lees and their children watched as the Krybots surrounded the Gold Ranger, their leader, their Lord of Triforia their home. They were hopeful that their leader, their mighty warrior, would be able to defeat this new enemy. He had beaten thousands in the past, this shouldn't be a problem, or so they thought.

They watched as the Krybots combined their strength and overpowered the Gold Ranger. Trey had barely lasted five minutes before he fell to the ground, going into a forced demorph. Trey cried out in pain; it was unlike anything he had ever felt. Blood trickled down his head as he locked eyes with the leader Krybot who pointed a blaster right at his head. He had failed. He couldn't save them, couldn't protect them, couldn't do anything. He waited for death to come for him; his punishment for his failure, only death had other plans in store.

"No! Leave him alone, you big meanie!" cried Kai as he broke away from his parents' grips. Ignoring his parents' cries, Kai ran in front of Trey, taking the blow. Everything seemed to fall in slow motion, everyone, including the Krybots, were stunned, they all watched as Kai dropped to the ground, unmoving. Trey pulled the boy into his arms, he was lifeless.

"No. Come on, Kai," Trey cried, as he tried to breathe life back into the small boy, but it didn't work. The boy was gone. And in his distraction, the blue Krybots shot Kyou and Aina. Trey turned his head when he heard Kim and Kane break out into loud cries, watching as their parents dropped to the ground. "No!" He tried to get up. "You won't get away with this!" But the orange Krybot knocked him hard in the head and he fell back down, not able to get up. He watched helplessly as the Krybots scooped up Kim and Kane, taking them away. "Kim… Kane…" There was nothing he could do, as he felt the darkness cave in. "Forgive me…"

Eltar

Eltar was a planet of different assortments of races, from wizards to witches, from humans to robots. It had been the home of Zordon, a great wizard, who was known widely through the galaxy for being able to sense great warriors in the making. He had taught a number of Power Ranger over the years, including his only son, but no one even knew he had a son.

None even knew the identity of the Phantom Ranger. Zordon's son had been the once great and proud Phantom Ranger, one of the universe's greatest secrets and one of its greatest tragedies. Only a few knew the truth about who he really was and how his life tragically came to and end, and all are dead today. All except one…

The Phantom Ranger gripped a young boy's shoulder tightly. "Son, run as far as you can. Go to our secret spot. I've called your mother, she's on her way, and she'll meet you there." his vocie was urgent and grave.

"But Dad…I want to help you fight," he pleaded as he handed his father his helmet.

The boys father took the helmet and put it on. "Clifford, not this time." He knelt down in front of his son, who was just a couple days shy of his second birthday, and wrapped his arms around him. Although the young boy was only two, he appeared much older, due to his Elterian half; young children mature much faster. The other special thing about Elterians is they are born the moment of conception in a stream of bright light. Which made Clifford all the more remarkable, because of his other half. "Now go, and whatever you do, don't look back." He held his son's hand until his son had gotten too far out of reach. "Don't look back," he said once more, before his son turned and ran off.

Moments after, the door of his home was broken open. The Phantom Ranger turned around and watched as Krybots emerged into his home, blasting everything in sight. "Where's the boy?" yelled the orange head.

"You'll never find him." The Phantom Ranger got into a fighting stance, but slowly eased his right hand behind his back to his belt, where a small device was clipped to the back of his belt. He pressed a button and a countdown of numbers began.

"Oh, you can be sure we'll find him. Even if we have to blow this place up piece by piece, we'll find him."

"I'd like to see you try."

Cliff started running as fast as he could, but he stopped and turned around. Already he could see a cloud of smoke; his home was up in flames. "Dad!" For a moment he was frozen, wondering what to do, do as his father said and meet up with his mother or disobey his father and go back to help him.

Young Cliff then realized he had no choice, his father was his hero, he had to help him. Cliff ran back towards home, not even knowing that it would be the biggest mistake of his life. No one could have ever imagined that one split second decision would come with drastic consequences.

The smoke was getting heavy and already he could feel his strength leaving him. The Krybots were just too powerful for him to handle on his own. His vision was starting to get blurry, as they surrounded him, getting closer and closer. He just needed a little more time, it wouldn't be long now.

"Give up while you still can," announced the orange head.

"Never!" He charged at them, using what energy he had left, giving his son all the time he could. He knocked one of the blue heads to the ground, landing right on top of him.

"He's got a bomb on him!" one of the blue heads cried.

"What?" The orange head's eyes lit up, only a few seconds remained. "We've got to get out of here!" The Krybots began to flee from the home, but the Phantom Ranger jumped on top of a few again, but not all, some still made it out.

It would be over soon, he just had never thought it would end like this. "I'm sorry….."

BOOM. A huge explosion emerged from the home, blasting everything in sight. The force of the explosion struck the Krybots that had escaped, knocking them into trees. "DAD, NO!" Even young Cliff had gotten in the explosion's way. His body went flying right into a tree. He hit his head hard and dropped to the ground, unmoving.

Several moments passed, until the surviving Krybots woke and searched the grounds until they came across the body of a young boy. The orange head approached him and knelt down, feeling for a pulse. "He's alive." He picked the boy up. "Come, our work here is done."

An hour later…

A young woman with long black hair ran as fast as she could out of her ship, into a dark and hidden spot. "Cliff!" she yelled. "Clifford!" But the boy never came or even said a word. She walked around some more and then her feet stumbled over something. She turned to see what it was. She gasped and her eyes filled with tears. "No..." Her knees gave away and she dropped to the ground. "No!" He was the one she had loved more than anything, her lover, her best friend. She pulled him into her arms and held him tightly, not even caring that he was bloody. "I'm sorry I couldn't get here in time…"

His eyes slowly opened. "Not…your fault." He had survived the blast, just barely, and made his way here, but he knew his time was short. He took her hand and kissed it gently.

She did her best to hold back her tears. "Where's Cliff?"

He had known his son had come back for him, yelling out his name, but he couldn't find him or any of the Krybots. He could only assume one thing. "I'm so sorry. I told him…" His eyes filled with tears. "He didn't listen."

She felt her heart breaking, not only had she lost her lover, but her son as well. "Not your fault." She gently caressed his face and short blond hair. "At least he won't go alone."

"I love you, Cassie."

"I love you more," she answered and watched as his eyes closed, like she had so many times, only this time it was forever.

KO-35

It had been years since Karone had been abducted by Darkonda. No one would have suspected that more than a decade later, that history would repeat itself, only this time at a greater cost.

They lived far off in the country farming area, a quite and peaceful place to live and raise children. At least that was what Anakin, a now retired soldier from the Kerovian army, had thought. His wife Cora had died during the war and he was left to raise his two children, Cosmo, his fifteen year old son, and Charlie, his five year old daughter.

Since his children were born, he had trained them to fight. Both of them were natural fighters, but what surprised him the most was how well Charlie was able to pick up on things, as if she was born to be a fighter. He just never suspected that her natural instincts it would turn his family's world upside down.

When the Krybots arrived he was unprepared, and needed to think fast. He woke his son and daughter up, and hurried them out the back door; it wouldn't be long before the Krybots would break through the bolted door. "Go as fast as you can!" he ordered them looking into his son's eyes, knowing Cosmo would want to stay and fight.

"But Dad, let me stay and help you!"

"NO!" he exclaimed urgently. He sighed heavily knowing this was hard for his son, but he needed them to be safe. He needed little Charlie to be safe. "I need you to take care of your sister. Can you do that for me?"

"Of course, but…" Cosmo sighed heavily, knowing he had to do what his father asked of him. Charlie might be a great fighter, but she still was just five years old. She wasn't equipped to handle a life and death battle. He didn't know why the Krybots were here, but he knew that they met business and wouldn't hesitate to kill them all.

Anakin rubbed his daughter's head. "Listen to your brother."

"I will, Father," ancouced Charlie as she locked eyes with her father, as she took her brother's hand. "Will I ever see you again?"

He smiled faintly. "Of course you will." There was a bang at the door. Anakin could feel his heart racing knowing they couldn't wait any longer. "You've got to go now! And whatever you do, don't stop running." Anakin stood there for a short moment watching as his children ran off into the night, before turning back into his home to give them some time to get away.

"Where's the girl?" barked the orange head as he watched Anakin storm into the room.

"You aren't going to touch her!" Anakin charged at them in blind rage rifle blaster in hand.

"Foolish human." The orange Krybot was fast and quickly grabbed a hold of Anakin by the neck, forcing the father of two to drop his weapon as the brute strength of his attacker was sucking the breath right out of him. THe Krybot then tossed Anakin across the room, knocking him right through a wall.

Anakin's body dropped to the ground hard, and he watched helplessly as the orange Krybot approached him. "Wait…" he begged.

BANG Bzzzz..

The Krybot shot his blaster once more, making sure Anakin was finished. He then kicked the body waiting for moment or sound, but nothing came. Satisfied the Krybot stepped over the lifeless body. "Search the perimeter, they couldn't have gotten far," he ordered.

Cosmo and Charlie ran as fast as they could, but Charlie's short legs were growing weary and she dropped to the ground. "Cosmo, I can't run anymore!" she cried.

Cosmo ran back to his sister and helped her up. "Come on, we have to," his voice was racing and full of panic. "They could be right behind us."

"Actually, we're right in front of you," laughed the orange head as he punched a startled Cosmo hard in the face, causing the teenager to stumble back.

"Hey, don't hit my brother, you big jerk!" yelled Charlie as she kicked the orange head hard in the leg.

The orange Krybot almost lost his balance, but he quickly grabbed a hold of her. "That hurt!"

"Let me go!" she screamed as she tried to fight him off. "Cosmo!"

"You're a feisty little thing, aren't you," he hissed.

"Charlie!" Cosmo got to his feet, only to be punched hard in the gut by a group of the blue Krybots. Winded, Cosmo was unable to get away before two of the blue heads grabbed a hold of both his arms, which prevented him from moving any farther.

"We got him, sir," announced a blue head.

"Let him go, you blue freak!" Charlie squirmed and tried to get free of her captor, but the orange head Krybot kept a good hard grip on her. They couldn't let her get away.

"Gruumm's orders were only for the girl," the lead Krybot announced. His eyes fell onto Cosmo. "Kill him!"

"What? No!" Charlie tried to get free, she punched and kicked, but all her attempts were futile. All she could do was watch helplessly as her brother tried to break free and watched as his face became terrified, as a third blue Krybot got in front of him pointing a blaster. "Cosmo, no!" cried Charlie, as she watched the Krybot shoot her brother. Soon after, the other blue Krybots released her brother and he dropped to the ground.

The orange Krybot put her back down on the ground and she ran to her brother, shaking him. "Cosmo, get up!" He didn't respond. "Cosmo, please. Please," she whimpered, as tears ran down her cheeks. Then she knew her brother was gone and he wasn't coming back. She ran back to the orange Krybot, kicking and punching him. "I hate you. I hate you!" she screamed. "I hate you!"

He scooped her up in his arms, looking her right in the eyes, sending a shiver down her spine. "Good…" he hissed.

Gruumm laughed as the memories faded away, it truly had been one of his biggest accomplishments, taking the children from their homes, and then raising them to do his own bidding. It only took a few years, until he had gained their trust and was able to get them to do whatever he asked. All the while, forgetting where they came from and who they once were….

"Emperor Gruumm, I think we have something that you've been looking for," announced Charlie.

He turned around and grinned. "Doggie Cruger, we meet again…"