****Note***
I'm not super thrilled with his chapter but I am trying to work into the next major revels and wrap up some loose ends. I hope you enjoy reading it anyway.

*************************Dark hallway***********************

"Oww..." Billy mumbled. He had landed right on his face. His nose was aching. He hoped it wasn't broken even as sudden strong hands were under his arms helping him up.

"There we go." Ninjor said. "Good job finding the entrance." he patted Billy on the back.

Billy felt his nose a bit, checking it for damage before replying. "I never though it would be hidden by an energy vortex. How prodigious."

"Ai-Yi-Yi but where is Kimberly?"

"Look there is light further down and I hear voices. I am sure if we follow them we will find her." Ninjor replied, already starting down the pathway.

Billy sighed and followed. It wasn't that he disliked Ninjor but the great ninja was well... a bit too self centered and had a bit too much ego for Billy's liking. They were getting closer to the light and he could hear Kimberly's voice clearly as she chatted away.

"Then Tommy showed up and he and Billy fought. Then there was this dark wind but Tommy somehow combined the falcon and the fire bird power, because he had my coin, and he was able to cure Billy. Then..."

"Zordon?" Billy called, blinking to adjust his eyes to the light.

"How good it is to see you again Zordon. You are looking well." Ninjor greeted the floating head in a tube.

"ZORDON!" Alpha 5 practically screamed coming over. "I've been so worried! Ai-Yi-Yi!" If the little robot was able to shed tears he would be crying with relief.

Kimberly moved over to Billy. "You okay? Your nose looks kinda swollen."

"Yeah, I just... sort of tripped in here."

Kim smiled and giggled a little. 'I fell in on my butt."

Billy chuckled a bit and Kim felt better. Her friend had been so sad, so very quiet recently. Well more quiet than usual.

"There, there Alpha 5. It's alright." Zordon soothed while listening to Ninjor ramblings of what had happened. "Now wait, just a moment. I do not believe Kimberly was done with her story."

Kimberly looked over at her name. "Right well, Tommy took us back to his ship. And there was this golden Crane and then my fire bird and well...the three of us had a conversation. I know that sounds silly but... the fire bird told me to have Tommy kill her. Destroy the coin and severe our connection but I wouldn't do that. I couldn't. I mean even if my power are limited. The crane would have never accepted me that way. I mean the crane didn't say that but I could feel it in my heart. Besides Katherine will make a great other pink ranger and I can still help out. Can't I?" She looked at Zordon, brown eyes so soft with a sad hope.

Zordon smiled, Kimberly truly has just a good heart. "Of course you can. Once a ranger always a ranger but... Kimberly, Billy. I think its time you know the truth of what Zedd might have done to you. A simple scan will confirm it and if I am right there are a few things we will need to discuss."

Billy took a step forward and as he did so, he took Kimberly's hand giving it a squeeze of comfort.

"Billy, Kimberly..." Zordon's voice was so sad. "There is a strong possibility that you are no longer human. Not fully anyway."

"Are you saying we're monsters?" Kimberly gasped, no that could not be! She couldn't be a monster.

"No, not monsters." Zordon said quickly. Because of Kimberly's message to him, he knew of Billy's brush with the darkness. He wanted to clarify quickly that they were not monsters. "Hybrids would be a more accurate term."

"That doesn't help." Kimberley replied quietly.

Billy rubbed his chin in thought. "Does this has to do with what Zedd said? Do you remember Kimberly? The first time in the throne room. He said he didn't care if it took 500 years. I would get serpentera operation."

Kimberly nodded. "I remember but humans don't live that long. Maybe a hundred years or so."

"Exactly so then theoretically Zedd would have to alter our DNA to extend our lifespan, unless its some kind of spell?" Billy mused pacing a bit. "Is there a medical lab here Zordon? I'd like to scan Kim as soon as possible."

Even with dread filling her heart Kimberly felt the smile on her lips. Billy was her best friend and he was always worried about her first. Not many people really cared, and she loved him for it.

"Here Billy, use this." Alpha 5 said bringing over something that resembled a giant remote control.

"Just stay still Kim."

Kimberly closed her eyes as shimmering light began to scan her where she stood. And she desperately hoped Zordon was wrong. If she wasn't human, then what was she?

Billy looked at the reading and frowned. He scanned her a second time just to be sure. "Fuck..." He whispered softly to himself. Readings didn't lie but this? How could he possibly tell Kimberly that she would one day be as old as Zordon? And probably still look like a teenager.

Kimberly gazed at him with such sadness. "Billy...What does it say?"

Billy couldn't meet her eyes. "I'm sorry Kim. I'm so sorry but... from these readings. You... you're only going to age a day for every year that passes. Meaning by the time we're middle aged...Tommy and the others will be...dust."

Kimberly couldn't stop the tears and Billy felt himself growing hopeless as Alpha used the device on him. He knew the readings would be the same. Zedd had gifted the teens with almost immortality.

And he wasn't sure he wanted it.

Kimberly wiped at her eyes. "I have to tell Tommy. We have to tell the others."

"And you shall young Kimberly but for right now, I suggest you and Billy take some time to think about this news. It's not the worst thing in the world. I, the Great Ninjor, am almost 12,000 of your earth years old. It really isn't a bad thing."

Billy frowned. "Maybe not for you Ninjor but for humans. I can't imagine living that long."

"Outliving everyone we love." Kim added softly. "Can you fix this Billy? Change us back?"

Billy shook his head. "I don't know Kim. I can try and I will try but changing DNA, usually that only happens when a human is exposed to dangerous stuff like radiation or cosmic rays. Cancer is usually the result, not immortality."

Kimberly sighed, "I need some fresh air."

"Of course Kimberly." Zordon replied. Once she had time to process, Zordon would mention that she and Billy would be welcome in his world for the rest of there magically lives. There was plenty of room and he cared for all his rangers like they were his children. "Billy please remain here and help get things up to speed."

Billy hesitated for a moment. It was clear from how Zordon spoke that the floating head wanted to have a few words with Billy. Billy really didn't want to but he nodded. "Yes Zordon."

"Alpha please teleport Kimberly outside to the others."

"Right away Zordon."

Kimberly felt the strange tickle of teleportation energy engulf her. When she next opened her eyes she was standing on the rock outcrop just above camp. Zordon had been wise to put her here. Close enough she could wander back to camp but far enough away she could take her time. Gather her thoughts and feelings. The sun was almost set. She could see others were all back at camp. Tommy was showing Justin how to get the fire going. Rocky was chopping some dried desert wood into kindling. Kat was shaking the sand out of the blankets they would be using tonight as bedding. Adam and Aisha were working in the make shift kitchen chopping something and putting it in a stew pot. Kimberly's heart fluttered. While she hadn't know them long her friends had become her new family.

And they were all going to grow old and die right before her eyes.

Kimberly burst into tears.

************************** Camp site***********************

"Tommy I'm getting worried. The others should have been back by now." Rocky said, as he brought over a pile of wood and stacked it close to the fire, but not so close it would ignite by itself. The sun was almost gone. All that was left of the light was the deep pinks and purples. Already stars could be seen twinkling above them. "Think they ran into trouble?"

"Man I hope not. We don't have any way to communicate with them. I should have ask Billy to make communicators." Tommy shook his head at his foolishness. If Jason was still alive, he would scold Tommy for not thinking to make sure the team had a way to communicate. He hadn't even thought of removing Jason communicator when they buried him. "We'll give them a few more minutes if they aren't back soon. We can start looking."

Rocky nodded and moved to help Aisha get the stew pot set up over the camp fire. It was going to be another cold night. He could smell the chill in the air. Another shivering night of huddling for warmth. Rocky said nothing as he helped with the stew. It was just vegetables again. Not that he wasn't thankful for the food, but the only protein Ninjor seemed to be able to pull from his portal was eggs. Well eggs and milk.

Rocky would give almost anything for a bit of bacon or some steak. He would have to talk to Tommy about that but he also felt guilty. He didn't want to take anything from the people he had helped save but... carrots, potatoes and turnips weren't much of a meal for the amount of energy they were expending. He wondered if there leader just hadn't thought of that.

Adam finished getting the last scraps put in the garbage when a sound reached his ears. It was soft, so quiet it could easily be explained as shifting sands but someone close by was crying. He glanced at his friends. Tommy and Kat were talking. Justin was playing cards with Bulk and Skull, Aisha was tending the stew pot while Rocky was blowing on the coals. Trying to get the heat just right to cook dinner. So who could be crying? Adam closed his eyes and really listened. Whoever it was wasn't that far.

He better check this out. Slipping away from camp, Adam quietly said. "Ninjetti the frog." becoming cloaked in midnight shadows. He hadn't been happy about being the frog before but his dark clothing and his jump ability were incredibly useful in such terrain. It only took two jumps to reach the source of the sound. Kimberly was on the edge of the rocks above the camp. She was sitting knees to her chest and head on her arms. Small sobs seem to wrack her frame. Adam looked around but there was no sign of Billy, Alpha 5 or Ninjor. He took a step towards her and then stopped. Death was just inches from Kimberly's leg. A deadly yellow scorpion had crawled up on her sneaker and was clinging to her sock. Drawn to the girl by her body heat. Now that the sun had set the desert was becoming cold.

Slowly Adam drew his blaster. He would get one shot at this. If he missed, Kimberly would be badly hurt but if she was stung he wasn't sure she would survive. Even if they got her to the hospital in town, he doubted they had any antivenom right now.

Adam aimed... and fired.