Zack and Kimberly jumped out of their skin when Rocky, Tommy, and Adam materialized in the lobby.
"THANK GOD!" Kimberly exclaimed almost knocking them over with a huge hug.
Rocky and Adam embraced her but Tommy did not. Standing still the effect of Jason's betrayal remained burned on his face. Rocky and Adam beheld him with pity when all three demorphed. However, Tommy paid them no heed.
"Be glad you guys are alive," Sean said, judging that there had not been a fight because their suits had not been damaged, which was what he had expected.
"Eat some pizza, guys," Zack said, indicating a closed extra-large pizza box lying on the counter. "We didn't want to start without you guys."
"Looks good," Tommy muttered.
Each of them took a slice. Some held them in the air. Others put them on paper plates. Regardless, no one ate.
"You look terrible," Zack added to Tommy.
Terrible was an understatement for Tommy's mood. His best friend in the world had just renounced everything good about him. Jason was worse than Zeltrax because Jason was not after any revenge. He was simply . . . evil.
Or was he?
Half of the time, Jason sounded a lot like the person he was when he was good. Tommy was as confused as Rocky and Adam.
Jason had been Rocky's predecessor as a ranger. Therefore, Rocky had always admired him and had wanted to be as good as Jason was but now he wasn't sure about it anymore. He felt as though his hero had failed him.
Adam didn't know what to say. He was too shocked to think.
"What happened up there, guys?" Kimberly asked. She didn't get an answer.
They could only eat slowly. It felt good to eat but it didn't fill the void in their hearts where Jason was concerned. They had all been betrayed, except for Billy, because he had already known this.
Meanwhile, Billy looked over at Trini, who was still in the same place. She stared into nothing with silent tears running down her cheeks, ignoring the full slice of pizza laid on a paper plate in front of her on the floor. She looked as if she had been drugged with a powerful sedative.
"Did you expect to surprise him by going to the moon?" Sean asked Tommy. He was absolutely exhausted but his voice was firm. "Jason knew that you would go to the moon, Tommy, because he has manipulated every single thing that has happened to his design. Not to mention the fact that Jason knows all of you. Why do you think Zedd was the only one in the Chamber of Command when you went there? He has spent a long time planning this out. Do none of you realize that Jason is out of your league?"
"Then why did you allow us to go up there?" Rocky demanded. Tommy looked up but did not speak.
"Because you would not have rested until the truth was verified by Jason," Sean said, changing his voice to a kinder tone. "I admired your attempt, Tommy. You tried reaching your friend which means you did not sever your friendship with him. Zordon would have been proud of you guys. Naturally, Trini still loves Jason even though he lied to her. None of you should ever forget about your friendship with Jason. It is that very connection that will help you in the days ahead. What you must ask yourselves is whether you hate Jason or not."
The rangers were astounded at Sean's words. Indeed, they were reminded of the speeches Zordon had given them in turn.
"How do you know she still loves him?" Kimberly asked.
"If she had rejected him, she would not be suffering as much as she is now," Sean answered.
The others glanced over at Trini.
She was completely oblivious to what Sean was saying. Trini didn't know how she felt and she didn't care. Shock didn't define it. Grief . . . loss . . . depression . . . none of them defined what she was going through. To her, they were just words. She had been in love with a wonderful man and had built a life with him. They had had their disagreements and celebrations. And now it was gone. It had all been a lie. If some of it had not, then that made it worse. Jason had played her for a fool and she never suspected a thing. Trini's heart was crushed by this betrayal. Tears were not enough; screaming was not enough. Her life, soul, mind – everything she knew – was shattered. She wanted to die but knew that was impossible, so she reluctantly compromised with limbo.
"What Trini is doing is healthy," Sean continued. "When she is finished grieving, she will be willing to fight. I promise you."
Tommy, Kimberly, Zack, and Adam all had depressed and disheartened looks on their faces and their body language gave no contradiction.
"Sean," Zack said. "In case you haven't noticed, we aren't in any condition to fight. Even if we were, how can we fight our own friend?"
"I am not asking you to fight Jason," Sean replied. "I'm asking you to be Power Rangers."
Silence hung in the air for a while before anyone spoke again.
"You're right," Tommy finally said. "Give us time to sort through this. When we are ready, will you help us?"
"Of course," Sean said, rising to his feet with a strain. "When you are ready, contact me." Without another word, he walked out the front door.
"He didn't look too good," Zack said. "Should we help him?"
"No, he'll be alright," Billy answered.
Tommy turned toward Billy. "Do you still need a place to stay?"
"Yes, I do," Billy said with a smile. "I don't have any money."
"You can stay at my place for as long as you want," Tommy said, rising to his feet. "Welcome back, old friend." The two friends hugged each other.
"Thanks," Billy said, joy kindling his eyes. Yet everyone present knew that Jason had spoken those words to Tommy on the day he had given Tommy back the Green Power Coin. The memory stung them.
"Let's get out of here and get some sleep," Tommy said, looking around at his comrades. His gaze fell on Trini. "What should we do with her?"
Kimberly strolled over to her. "I'll take her home with me," she said, knelling to Trini's side.
"Mind if I tag along?" Zack asked.
"That'd be excellent," Kimberly said, merest traces of a smile peeping out from her mouth. "Give me a hand."
With Trini slumped over Zack and Trini's shoulders, the rangers vacated to their vehicles. They were a team—fragmented and wounded—but a team nevertheless. It would take more than what had occurred today to break their friendship.
As the rangers went their separate ways, Jason surveyed the Earth from the balcony of the Chamber of Command. "I won today, guys," Jason said softly. "Be ready for what comes next."
"Your plan is working, my lord," Zedd said. "It is only a matter of time."
"Let's not get too excited," Jason added, smiling slightly. "You know full well Power Rangers have a habit of bouncing back to their feet during crises."
"Understood," Zedd and Rita replied, bowing immediately.
Jason turned his head back to Earth, sweeping his vision across the American landscape. Staring at the world in general, he imagined cupping his hands around the blue marble. Soon…
