Discalimer: I own Parix and Shreefang and I think that's it for this chapter.

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for your reviews. Many of you mentioned Andros' fortune and wondered if he had gotten one and just hid it. No! He did not get one! That cookie was empty! Now, I only ask that you let that simmer in your minds for a moment and think about what it means. Andros has no fortune; fortune equals future; Ashley's fortune said something cryptic. Yeah, I'm evil. Oh, and I just didn't have Carlos say what his said, he gets a lot of play later in the story and I felt he could handle not having a fortune. Now, enjoy chapter 4, where stuff actually happens!

When It Rains…

Chapter 4 - Help

"Incoming distress call from Centaur B."

"Put it through," Andros ordered.

It was the day after the picnic and the Rangers were all enjoying another day of relaxation, or so they had thought.

"Andro- we nee- -lp. ---aiders –a-acking. Plea- hurry."

"Well," Carlos reflected, "that does not sound good."

"DECA," Andros said, "are all Rangers onboard?"

"Yes."

"Then set a course-"

Andros was cut off by another announcement from DECA. "There is a monster attacking Angel Grove."

"When it rains," T.J. muttered.

Andros was still for a moment, considering his options. His people needed help, but so did the Earth. They couldn't just put off their Terran responsibilities on the shoulders of other heroes as they had in the other realities, the situation was not nearly so dire or drawn out as to call for that.

"All hands, to the bridge," Andros ordered over the comm. system. Several minutes and one long-winded explanation later the Rangers thought over the situation.

"We'll go," Karone said. "I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve, even without the dark power, and Ecliptor has always been a force to be reckoned with. We'll handle things on Centaur B."

"And I'm coming," Zhane declared before Andros could protest his sister's commitment. "I'm not about to let you go off on your own. These guys can handle things here for a while. They've got more than enough help that they can still call on. You do," he turned to Andros with an accusing finger, "don't deny it."

"Fine," Andros conceded. "You three go. Good luck," he added with a meaningful look at Karone. "The rest of you: Let's Rocket!"


"And who might you be?" the Blue Ranger asked the creature before him. It, or more precisely she, seemed to be a cross between a woman, a wolf, and a bat. Her body appeared to be that of a werewolf caught in mid transformation, and on her back was a pair of massive bat wings which she could fold in to allow herself more mobility in battle. Not a pleasant enemy to face.

"I am Shreefang," the creature declared, "I seek the Power Rangers, have you seen them?"

"We are the Power Rangers you near-sighted freak!" Carlos retorted.

"Really, you look more like children playing dress-up to me."

With that Shreefang raced forward so fast even the former Turbo Rangers would have done a double take, were it not for the fact that they were being brutally scratched by Shreefang's wolf claws.

"She's fast," Ashley said, clutching her side. The monster had actually managed to penetrate her armor.

"Very fast," T.J. agreed.

"Split up," Andros said curtly. "If she goes after one of us, the others will be able to attack without so much danger to themselves."

The others nodded and jumped away, forming a diamond around the wolf-bat.

Shreefang smirked. "You really think that will help you?"

She lunged toward Andros, then veered off to attack T.J. at the last minute. The Blue Ranger was caught off guard and suffered several more vicious scratches before the others even managed to pull out their astro blasters. Carlos was the only one who managed to get in a shot before Shreefang backed off. T.J. dropped to his knees as the woman laughed.

"I had been told that the Power Rangers of Earth were some of the strongest in the galaxy. Obviously, I was misinformed. I will return, and when I do, I expect to face real warriors." Shreefang gave one great flap of her wings and disappeared into the sky.

"T.J.," Ashley raced over to help her friend. "Are you all right?"

"I'll be fine," T.J. said through gritted teeth, "just get me back up to the ship… and I'll be fine."

"DECA," Andros called, "four to teleport directly to medical bay."


"Where did she come from?" Carlos asked as Alpha applied a salve to his more serious wounds.

"Any ideas DECA?" Andros asked.

"There have been no recent indications of a rising of any sort of evil on Earth."

"So that rules out good ol' Terran evil," T.J. muttered from the bed where DECA was scanning him for the third time.

"So, she's from another planet," Ashley said. "But was she sent, or did she come on her own?"

"From what she said," Andros theorized as he paced the room, "I'd guess that she's here for bragging rights."

"Well, she's got 'em," Carlos muttered, pulling on his shirt.

"But she's not going to be content with this," T.J. said, "she'll want to destroy us."

"You know," Ashley sighed after a few minutes, "some days, being a legendary force for good isn't all it's cracked up to be."


Men, and the term is used very loosely here, from all over the Cerxus Galaxy frequented Sarris' Pub. It was positioned just North of the Terullian mining fields on Kelin and was thus in the prime spot to receive… businessmen of all sorts. It was with great shock one morning when the pub opened—the pub only closed for about an hour every night since Sarris only needed twenty minutes of sleep a day—when the pub opened and a comely young woman with long black hair and enchanting eyes was serving drinks. She even, if you were a regular and she liked you enough which meant to grabbing or badmouthing, might sing a little song in the most beautiful voice most of those men had ever heard, mainly because most of those men either hadn't seen a woman in several months (or years) or came from species where verbal communication involved a lot of gurgling and screeching.

Parix was a regular. He came to Kelin at least twice a month to check on his employer's Terullian shipment and always stopped by Sarris's.

"Hello Dolly," Parix said as he slid onto the barstool. She gave him a kind "hello" in return, along with a strange sort of smile she always got when anyone greeted her as he had, but continued wiping off glasses and so he continued. "You know, no matter how many planets in how many galaxies you go to, you will be hard pressed to find a bar without stools, regardless of the physiology of either the planet's dominant species or the owner, it doesn't matter, there's always stools. It's a conspiracy."

"A conspiracy?" Dolly asked, absentmindedly wiping down the bar. "By who?"

"By the stool makers," Parix said with mock sincerity.

"Really? I never knew stool makers could be so devious."

"Oh, they are, you just haven't met any yet."

"You know, I don't suppose I have ever met a stool maker," Dolly said, thinking about it for a moment.

"You want to?" Parix asked.

"Depends, what's this one like?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure we'd meet one if you came with me."

"Parix," Dolly warned.

"Now just wait Dolly, I can give you more than this old place ever could, more than most of these other men ever could. Just come away with me and I will show you things in this universe that you never dreamed of."

"Parix," Dolly said firmly but softly enough that no one else would overhear, "I'm not about to 'come away' with anyone. You know that."

"I do. But I also know that there is more waiting for Dolly Levi in this universe than just a job as a barmaid."

"Maybe there is."

"Just, promise me you'll think about it Dolly," Parix pleaded.

"I can definitely promise you that I will think about it." 'Just not the way you think,' she thought as he walked away.


"Send this to Shreefang."

"Wh- what is it for milord?"

"She is to use it on one of the Rangers. Preferably the Red or Yellow, I am unsure what its affects will be on the others, but I am sure no matter who she chooses, the results will be most interesting."