******************** Africa*****************************

"Lerigot's signal is getting stronger." Tommy said as he pushed his way through the thick green foliage.

"Tommy? Do you mind if we stop for a minute?" Katherine asked. They had been walking for over an hour now but had barely gain any distance on the signal. The jungle was positively unforgiving.

Tommy looked at her, worry in his eyes."You okay?"

Katherine wiped at the sweat on her forehead. "Yeah it's just hot out here."

"I know. Want some water?" Tommy offered, turning his back to her slightly so she could access the power pack.

"Thanks." Katherine took the small vial and opened it taking several deep gulps of cool water. She figured this tiny object was some kind of pocket dimension, like the kind Ninjor used. After all for only being slightly bigger then a shot glass, she was easily able to drink her fill and there was still water left.

"Here." She offered it to Tommy.

Tommy took the water, grateful for it as he surveyed the land. "Thanks Kat."

Katherine sighed, closing her eyes, as she sat on a fallen log. "Oh man, this heat's intense."

Tommy nodded, "We still have a lot of jungle to cover." The scanner had brought them right along a cliff path over a very wild, raging river. Tommy watched the water for a moment. If they could find a way down there, walking along the river might be easier than continuously breaking trail. He turned back to Katherine, about to suggest they try following the river when his eyes fell on a thick vine just behind his friend, against the tree.

Only it wasn't a vine. It was moving! Tommy had never seen a snake so large, scales glinting in the sunlight. Other then being the wrong color, black instead of green, and on the wrong continent, he would swear it was an anaconda. "Don't move." Tommy warned immediately going on the defensive. His change in body language alerted Katherine there was danger before she felt it. She could feel it now, something crawling up her back with rippling muscles. She turned her head slightly, her eyes falling on the the head of a snake, its tongue flicking out against her neck and cheek.

Clearly about to make the pink ranger it's dinner.

Tommy took a few steps closer. "On the count of three, jump away. One... Two... Three!"

Kat leap to the side, misjudging the edge of the cliff, slipping over with a cry as she grabbed a few exploded tree roots to keep from falling. Tommy called her name but he had his hands full fighting the beast that seemed hell bent on eating his face.

"Tommy! I'm slipping!" Katherine shouted up. She could hear Tommy fighting and hoped he would be alright. She reached, struggling when the root broke in her hand. Katherine screamed plunging fifty feet into the white water below.

Tommy punched the snake, found an opening and slipped from it. Leaping off the cliff without hesitation while shouting for Katherine. He hit the water hard, the coldness knocking the breath out of him. It was like ice water! For a moment, he floundered, before breaking into a swim. He could see Katherine's head of golden hair bobbing in the water about 100 feet in front. She was gasping, more flailing then swimming, desperate to keep her head above the churning water.

Tommy felt the rocks bash against him, bruising his body as he fought to catch up with her. "Kat! I've got you!" He pushed a button on the power pack, releasing a life vest that instantly inflated. He fought with the water to get it secured over Katherine before fighting with everything he had left to get them to shore.

Gasping and ready to collapse, Tommy reached the shoreline. Thankful to find an area he could get them out. It was wide with beaten down reeds but he helped Katherine to get out of the water and onto a rock. Her power pack was gone. She was favoring her right leg. He could see she had a bad cut, blood coming from a wound already swelling. It was the swelling that worried him. "Kat, are you okay?"

"My leg..." she said quietly.

Still partly in the water Tommy leaned down and began to feel the area. Katherine hissed in pain, making Tommy frown. He didn't like hurting her. "I'm not sure if its broken or just badly sprained. You must have hit a rock."

"Yeah. I must have. It really hurts...Tommy..." Katherine's eyes had gone as big as dinner plates as her voice became quiet, barely more than a whisper. "There is a gigantic crocodile right behind you. I think we're in her nest."

Tommy froze, hearing a soft hiss of warning. Very slowly he reached for his power pack. "Where behind me?"

"One o'clock. Just behind your left shoulder."

"How close?"

Katherine swallowed hard. She knew crocodiles were nothing to play around with. "About six feet."

Tommy held the pack tightly in both hands. He was going to get one shot at this. The crocodile attack and Tommy flung himself to the side shoving the power pack into the beasts mouth. The crocodile violently death rolled and shook it's massive head.

Katherine was in Tommy's arms being carried away from the carnage of the power pack being ripped to shreds. She was surprised Tommy was able to carry her and run at the same time.

They were alive but now with no aid and no scanner.

What could they do?"

************************** Command Chamber***********************

Kimberly dried her eyes. "And that's the whole story." She hiccuped once before blowing her nose on a tissue Adam handed her.

Adam leaned back in his chair. "Wow. I mean I had some idea but... wow." He mumbled. Kimberly had been completely honest with him and he knew that spoke volumes for how much she trusted him. In that moment he swore to himself he would never betray the trust she had just put in him.

Kimberly snuffled before speaking. "I'm sorry Adam..."

Adam blinked, surprised. "For what Kim?"

She shook her head. "I should have kept all this to myself. It's just... I'm not any good on my own. I've never been good alone. I've always found strength in my friends. Before, I would talk to Trini or Jason or..." She sobbed quietly once more, "...but... Billy's gone and I can't trust Tommy with all this. I mean I trust him but...not with all my heart. Not right now... not after he..." She trailed off once more and looked away from Adam as she spoke. "I can't keep going on my own with a fake smile on my face. I'm such a burden to everyone. Adam you are the only one here that I feel truly safe with, so please Adam..." She turned pleading eyes to him, begging. "Please... may I draw strength from you to keep going? To have hope?"

Adam had crossed the few steps to the bed and taking her in his arms before he realized what he was doing. "Of course Kim! I'm here for you. Come hell or high water or Ivan Ooze I'm not going anywhere. I'm here. Whenever you need a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to or just feel safe with. I'm here. I promise. You are not a burden. You are my friend and if anything should happen you can come with us..."

Kimberly wrinkled her nose in confusion. "Come with who?"

Adam blushed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Shit, I wasn't suppose to say anything but... Rocky, Aisha and I. You know were were in the slave caves on moon together, right?"

Kimberly nodded.

Adam continued. "We got along really well, all of us and Rocky, he's a great leader... but... we have talked about... maybe walking away from all this..." Adam gestured to the wall around him.

Kimberly's jaw dropped. "You'd give up being power rangers?"

Adam sighed, "Yes and no, we love being rangers but Tommy's leadership... leaves a lot to be desired."

Now it was Kimberly's turn to sigh. "A lot of that is my fault. I'll talk to Tommy."

Adam shook his head. "You don't have to if you don't want to. I'd never ask that of you."

"No, I should." Kimberly stood and took a moment to compose herself. "Thank you for everything Adam."

"Anytime Kim." Adam said, as he watched her leave his room, he felt a warmth creep into his cheeks that he hurried to push away.

Confessing his feelings now, would only hurt Kimberly... especially since he wasn't sure yet if this was the affection one felt of a close friendship or the budding blossom of romantic love.

******************** Submarine*********************

"So this is the Nightmare? So beautiful and so violent." Ivan Ooze mused as he moved around the beast that was once Billy.

The Nightmare whined and pulled against the chains that held him still. The bodies of several minions laid on the ground around him, blood dripping from his horn. It had been, quite challenging, for the piranhatrons to bring Billy up from the hold.

"You say he was once a human and one of Zordon's power brats at that?" Ooze asked, not seeming to mind the blood his robes were dragging in as he turned to Divatox.

"Yes, that's what I was told. His name was Billy and he was the blue ranger."

"Billy..." Ivan purred, reaching out to stroke the nose of the wild beast. "I wonder what secrets your memories hold."|

The Nightmare stomped its hooves struggling once more, unhappy at being touched.

"Um so... what are you going to do with it?" Elgar asked.

Divatox frowned at her nephew, she knew he was dumb but asking Ooze of his plans was almost a death wish. But to her surprise, Ivan laughed.

"Why... let him loose on Angel Grove of course! And when those power brats show up. I will kill all but one, and I will use that one to take me to Zordon. And then I will have my revenge! Ha Ha Ha!"

******************* Africa****************************

Katherine and Tommy hobbled along. The white ranger doing the best he could to help support Katherine. He had made her a shin splint using some sticks and the shoe lace from his sneaker.

"Tommy... maybe we should call for backup?" Katherine voiced her desire to return to the command chamber and send one of the others back to help.

"Hold on just a little longer Katherine. I know we are going in the right direction. If we stop, Lerigot might not make up."

Katherine shielded her eyes from the sun that was beating down on them without mercy. Tommy was right. "Okay... a little farther."

For awhile more they walked in silence, having found a trail that lead to a small clearing. Tommy blinked, there were a few chimpanzees around a small figure dressed in robe with a long beard and large, uncomfortable so, eyes.

Carefully Tommy help Kat to sit on a rock before approaching. "Lerigot? I'm Tommy, one of the power rangers. Alpha sent us to find you."

The wizard made strange noises but Tommy could understand the word. "Alpha..."

The white ranger nodded, "Yes Alpha."

Lerigot made a strange cooing sound and moved to to Katherine. She flinched slightly as he reached out a small hand towards her leg. Beautiful sparkling light flowed from his fingers and she felt all the pain vanish. "My leg, he healed my leg. Thank you."

Lerigot cooed again then almost fell, fainting. Tommy caught the small being. "Let's get back to the command chamber."

Katherine nodded. "Right."