A/N: This is a rough chapter, kids. You all have been warned.

SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE

ZEDD

Muttering rude things under my breath, I turn the ship in the direction of Earth. I knew this would be a total waste of time. Sometimes I hate being right. Rita had found out next to nothing that would help me - or Thomas. Now I've wasted three days for no damn good reason. I set the auto pilot and get up to get some sleep. I'm stunned when a wave of nausea hits so strongly it brings me to my knees. The feeling in the pit of my stomach that had faded somewhat over the past few days, though alcohol had helped, has returned full force and then some.

Barely resisting the urge to vomit, I drag myself to my feet and stumble to my sleeping quarters. I haven't felt like vomiting in over a hundred years, so why now? Distracted from this line of thought as another wave makes itself known, I barely make it to the bathroom in time for my stomach to empty itself into the proper place. What in hell's name is going on?

"Computer authorize…oh god." Pausing as I once more drop over the commode and lose what bile is left in me, I give myself a good minute before continuing.

"Authorize scan five dash M-seven on me." I voice activate the medical scan and wait - though not very patiently.

"Specific entity which you wish scanned." Stupid fucking piece of Eltarian crap.

"Scan Lord Zedd, the only damn living entity on this ship!" Oh, yelling and vomiting not a good combination. Sinking down onto the floor in misery I wait for the response, which had better be-

"Scan in progress, remain where you are." Don't think that's going to be a problem right now.

Several minutes later, the computer finally and mechanically reports back, "Scan complete Lord Zedd of Eltar contains non illness, virus, or physical ailment."

I snarl at it helplessly at the WRONG response. "Wanna bet?"

Picking up my previous curses as I slowly climb to my feet, wash my mouth and then drag myself to my bed and collapse, shaking with the effort. I can think of no reason in the UNIVERSE I should be feeling like this. Okay, Zedd, focus. Get to Earth, get Thomas and get back home. At least then I'll have Dar and Pina to help. Hopefully, I can hold out that long.

BACK ON EARTH

HAYLEY

Oh, god, what do I do now? I've been getting chased by Tyrannodrones for the last five minutes and I am about dead here. Realizing that I'm back to where I started, I grin. My car is nearby. If I can make that, I'm in good shape. I shove my hand in my pocket to get my keys and my fingers brush against Tommy's bracelet. I know I should leave it in the lair, but I can't help but keep it with me. It's become something of an obsession with me, but he's my best friend.

I pull it out of my pocket so I have a better chance of finding my keys and without thinking, slip it on my wrist. I stop dead in my tracks as I feel the power fuse with me. Uh oh. Almost before I can process what I've done, I spin on the freaks that are after me and all but wipe them out. The monster that had scattered the Rangers appears and fires at me. I twist out of the way and am surprised when the key to the morpher appears in my hand.

I've given up thinking rationally at this point and am going on pure instinct when the words leave my mouth. "Dino Thunder - Power Up!" I jam the key in its slot and twist, instantly morphing into the Black Ranger. Almost as soon as the morph is complete, the other Rangers show up.

"Dr. O?" Kira says hesitantly. Not quite, Kira.

"No way!" Ethan's stunned voice knocks me out of my stupor.

"Later. We need to deal with this first." I'm stunned to hear Tommy's voice come out of the helmet over my head. What the hell? "Rangers, bring 'em together."

Without hesitating, they form the Z-Rex blaster and blow that sorry excuse for a monster completely out of existence. Fortunately, there's not enough left of him for Mesagog to grow. I sigh and turn to the kids. "Back to the lair. Now." Ignoring the questions, I walk off. Now if I could just figure out what I'm going to tell them…

TOMMY

Oh my god I am freezing. I can't believe that they think that half drowning me in ice cold water is a good idea. I wish Hayley - no don't go there. They told me that she wasn't going to come for me. She didn't want to deal with me and that's why she dumped me here. I had kind of already known that I guess, but hearing them say it and seeing as how she hasn't come for how many days to even see me, it just hurts so much. I thought we were friends, and the kids, they said they'd come too, they spent a lot of time with me in the hospital especially Kira and Connor, so why not now? What did I do wrong?

Curling up more on my bed and grabbing my head as I try my best to figure it out I wish I knew what they have me on - thinking is really hard now, harder then it was when I was in the hospital even. And I'm so cold, the blanket they gave me is a joke - it wouldn't keep a bug warm and the air is on all the time I just want to go home, but then I don't because they don't want me at home and now I don't know what I want except for all the screaming to stop and them to leave me alone and…

Suddenly aware of the silence, I lift my head as I realize that maybe I shouldn't have asked for that first bit. In the last couple of days I've learned that the silence is never a good thing. If I'm interpreting the sounds that follow the silence right, bad things happen to the other inmates when the silence starts, because it's not long after that the crying follows it.

My stomach clenches in fear as I hear the lock on my door turning and Big John steps in my room pulling it shut behind him. I've tried my best to stay out of his way, learning really fast the first day that I only end up strapped to the bed or thrown in a cold bath when I don't, but sometimes it can't be helped. Like meal times when he shoves food down my throat or what few bathroom breaks I get, I don't like how he looks at me and I can't help but get upset about it, normally yelling to be left alone.

"I didn't do anything." Voice tired and hopefully not sounding as scared as I think it does, I look at him pleadingly just wanting to be left to sleep.

He grins at me - and it's not a nice grin either. "That's not why I'm here. You've been here long enough. It's time to check out the new merchandise." The what? What does that mean?

Before I can ask or move, he grabs me and pulls me off the cot and next thing I know, he has me pinned face first against the wall. "Stop squirming bitch, it'll be easier for you if you just take it. Remember what I said about pissing me off?"

"But I didn't do an- hey!" Gasping out and struggling fruitlessly as he reaches around to my front and grabs me somewhere few people have touched. He fondles me for a minute and I can feel his reaction pressed against my backside. No, no not like this, don't want this, not like this, not with him.

"Little slut, knew you liked it rough." His words cutting badly through me as I can feel myself responding to his hand despite the fact it's the last thing I want I open my mouth to say something, anything against it but freeze at his next words. "And if you open your mouth again, it had better be because you want something in it."

Hastily, I snap my mouth shut. I'm not sure what he means, but I'm sure I don't want to find out. My brain is working as fast as it can these days, trying to find a way out of this when he suddenly lets go. It's over, it's okay it could have been worse, just don't-

Turned around he slams me against the wall again before pushing me against the bed rail hard enough to knock the wind out of me. As I struggle to breathe, he bends me over the end of the bed starting to pull my pants down.

"Stop!" I swing one arm behind me to stop him, but he grabs it before I can hit him, twists and pins it in the small of my back. Before I can do more than gasp in pain he begins to probe his fingers against a spot no one has touched before. Another gasp of pain as he begins to penetrate the sensitive area and I freak out.

"No!" I twist away, wrenching my shoulder in the process but at least getting away from him long enough to pull my pants back up and move back.

He looks angry and a little surprised it would seem that I actually managed to get away. Honestly so am I. "I warned you not to open your mouth unless you wanted something in it." As he approaches, I fall into a defensive stance that I wasn't even sure I knew. But I do know it right. I can fight. Didn't Connor tell me that at the hospital, I'm a good fighter, one of the best? So I can do this right? I can keep him from me if I really try. Expression and voice turning mocking he looks at me as if I've lost it. "You think you can beat me?" I think I'm going to try damn hard to. "Think again."

He lunges at me and I swing at him. My aim is way off and I miss. I barely block one punch he throws at me before I'm so focused on trying to take out his knee that I don't even see the other one coming. He connects with my left temple and I nearly lose consciousness. So much for being a good fighter, maybe he was just saying that to make me feel better.

"Brat." Dragging me back over to the bed and toss me on it, making sure that my head hangs over the end. The next thing I know he is standing over me with his pants pushed down enough to expose himself and apparently the name Big John is given for a reason.

Trying to pull my head away even though it hurts really badly now I don't manage to as he digs his thumbs into the hinges of my jaw, forcing it open. There is no way to close it or to stop what's about to happen, because his intentions have just become horrifyingly clear. His grin is evil as he says, "Take a deep breath. You're not going to get one for a while."

I suck in as much air as I can, fully intending to scream. Before I can, he is forcing his length into my throat and I barely hear his sigh of pleasure. "You virgins are the best. Nothing is as good or as tight."

He starts stroking in and out of my throat, groaning the whole time. "Oh yeah, gotta love that swallowing reflex. I'm gonna have your other cherry in a few days, but I'm going to enjoy this for the next couple." No, no more. I just want out of here and away from him!

He's moving faster and rougher. God I hurt and I need air. My vision is starting to fade along the edges when he thrusts in deep, moaning loudly and cursing. I can feel him swell in my throat, which is swollen from the abuse before something hot and sticky is forced down, making me swallow despite the fact it's the last thing I want to do.

He pulls out of me after a few more hard thrusts and lets me go, but not before I see the traces of blood - my blood! - on him. As he gets himself redressed and leaves, he says something that I definitely don't want to hear, "Don't worry, I'll see you tomorrow night."

I curl up in the corner of the room facing the door and crying silently. Hayley, I'm sorry for every mean thing I said and did. Please just come and get me. Please.