Tommy sat on Jason's couch and rubbed his face wearily. Of all the things that could go wrong, this had to be the worse. Not only were there two former rangers missing, but now there was a current ranger missing, with no clues as to where to start looking for them. If there was ever a time that he needed Billy, this was it. Sighing, he turned to look at the man sitting beside him. Andros looked as bad as Tommy felt with his hair was messed up and all out of place. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his clothes were so wrinkled they looked like he had worn them for a year.

"What are we gonna do?" Zack's voice cut through Tommy's musing and brought him crashing back to the present.

"We need to contact Billy," said Jason.

Tommy shook his head. "No, Billy isn't on Aquitar anymore. The Aquitians abandoned their home world after an attack by space pirates a few years ago. I don't know where they went."

Jason threw up his hands in frustration, "convenient!"

"What about Trey," suggested a hollow sounding Andros.

Again, Tommy shook his head. "No, I don't think Trey can help us with this one."

Silence feel over the group like a black pall as Tommy immersed himself once more into his thoughts, and it wasn't until he felt Andros shift uncomfortable by his side that he realized he was not alone in the room.

Finally he spoke in a voice little more than a whisper. "I know someone who can help."

"Who? What? Where are they?" Were the questions that followed his little announcement. He held up his hand for silence and turned to Andros.

"I think you know who I'm talking about," he said.

Andros nodded his head and sighed. "Do you really think that they would help us?"

Without hesitating Tommy said yes.

Andros stood and walked towards the door, "I'll contact them immediately."

"Who are we talking about bro," asked Jason as Andros disappeared.

"You never met them, but I worked with them a few years ago. They're from a space colony not far from KO-35, but they are much more advanced than them. If any one can help us, they can."

--- --- ---

Jason was beginning to feel safer after three days aboard the Megaship. At first he had been leery about flying out into the depths of space, but after a while he found that is wasn't nearly as bad as he had thought it would be. It was much easier on the stomach than riding the waves on the ocean for days on end.

"Tommy," he said as he walked into the guest quarters, "tell me something about these rangers we are going to meet."

Tommy placed his notebook on the nightstand and turned on an extra lamp. "Well, there really isn't much to tell. They are just like all the other ranger teams that we've ever encountered, except they are from a much more advanced civilization, and when I say that, I mean much more advanced. I only meet three of them before, and they all seemed nice enough. Their leader is somewhat arrogant when you first meet him, but he gets over any quandaries he might have about dealing with lesser 'inferior humans' and is likable. I found that if you really want something done you have to go to his second in command, she's smart as a whip and has her CO wrapped around her finger, poor guy doesn't stand a chance when it comes to her. As for the other ranger, he's kind of quiet and tends to disappear into the background when everyone is talking, but all three of them are dependable and loyal in battle. I'd trust them with my life and yours too."

Zack and Jason nodded, this wasn't a concession that Tommy made easily, and when he did it really meant something.

"We have a problem" said Andros abruptly from the doorway, cutting off Jason's next question.

--- --- ---

Zack stared at the daunting stationary entity before them. "What is that thing?"

"It's the USCC Avenger."

"The what?"

"The biggest spaceship that has ever been built, it belongs to the United Space Colonies of Crema and is piloted by the Cremean rangers."

Jason's mouth formed the silent letter O as his awestruck brain refused to function. The ship before them was five times as big and five times as intimidating. It hung over them like a colossal blackened monster that could reach out at any second and devour them.

"Why is it just sitting there," wondered Zack aloud.

"Good question," said Andros. "Scans indicate that there are no life forms aboard the ship, and that all internal power is set to emergency."

Tommy stared at the silent sentinel towering over them, "and what does that mean….exactly?"

"That there was a fight." Andros pushed a series of buttons on the control panel before looked up to meet Tommy's steady gaze. "We have to go on board and see if there were any survivors."

"But I thought you said there were no life signs," said Zack falling into pace with Andros.

"There aren't, but the Avenger is a much more advance ship and may be shielding them from the Megaship's sensors to protect its passengers from another attack."

"Fine, but what if there are more people on that thing than just the rangers? What if we run into the bad guys? In case you have forgotten, we don't have our powers anymore."

"True, but you can still fight," said Andros as he rounded a corner. "Besides, we brought the other rangers for a reason. More man power."

Tommy nodded, "right. Zack, you and Jason go get the rest of the rangers while Andros and I get everything ready to board the Avenger."

"Whatever man," conceded Zack, "but I don't like this."

Tommy silently agreed with Zack, the uneasiness that had settle in the pit of his stomach since Jason's phone call days before had intensified ten fold since he had seen that ship floating lethargically in space. There was something about it that he didn't like, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what. There was a sense of foreboding growing around him that he couldn't seem to shake. Something had happened on that ship, something horrible, and deep down Tommy knew that what ever it was somehow connected to the disappearance of the girls. Stepping into the small craft that would take them over to the ship Tommy felt the urge to run, and as the towing giant began to eclipse the stars as they drew nearer ever fiber of his being was screaming at him to turn back before it was too late.

But the point of no return had already been reached, and the rangers were playing straight into destiny's hand.