Author's Notes: Lovely to see you all again! I know when I start getting reviews that are just update requests, it's time for me to get this out. I do want to thank everyone for being patient with me… the past few months have been difficult, and I'm getting close to finishing my dissertation work (the common theme of the past couple years). I'm hoping to keep up at least a chapter every month from now on: doesn't seem like a fast pace, but it's faster than I'm going now.

Thanks for all my reviewers: thenight613 (Thanks so much. Congrats for reading… and epic rereading… the series.), Ghostwriter (Thanks!), lunarweather (Thanks!), Richard (Thanks! There's more now!), bleedredstars (At least I'm keeping Jason on for a good long while… and making his leaving significant. And, since I'm planning through Zeo at least, he'll eventually come back), KLR1 (You're always good at anticipating developments…), AvalonHeights (Thanks for the encouragement, and congrats for catching up.), jwastahle (Thanks! And done!), brankel1 (Thanks!), manley24 (Thanks! I like to think of myself as a drug…), GothamPowerKaiju (Yep, love Goldar. I do think it's interesting that he sides so much with Zedd once Rita comes back in the show. Of course, they played it off that Goldar was always more loyal to Zedd than Rita, and sort of thinks as Rita as a usurper, but I'd like to explore that dynamic while going in the complete opposite direction for Goldar's motivations.), falcon242 (LOL, don't I… well… not wish. I mean, screenwriting is definitely different from fanfiction. I am interested in how Lionsgate/Saban is going to swing this. I'd actually be interested in a reboot… as long as it doesn't go the way of Dragonball Evolution, of course), Linariel (I always felt that, while the show was improving, the episodes around "Ninja Encounter" were necessarily weak, as they had to film around three actors not being there. I decided to do some episode-combining. I also remember their anger from the show at a mysterious White Ranger… who was so obviously Tommy I couldn't believe they didn't get it when I was a child. I decided to repurpose their anger. And… yeah… I think Goldar is still one of my favorite characters so work with.), Sabi2 (Thanks!), grannybe (I will, I will!).


Brighter Paths

Book 1: New Light

Chapter 3: Yellow

"So the freedom fighters, who don't even remember they're freedom fighters, are now Lord Zedd's assassins," Trini said.

Tommy shot a look up at Zordon, who shook his head, a signal for Tommy to remain silent.

"So any brilliant plans?" Billy asked Jason. "That don't, you know, involve abandoning us?"

Jason gritted his teeth. "I might have a few ideas…" he started threateningly.

"Not helpful, guys," Tommy said. "Billy, I sorta need a hand with these scans. I can figure out there's something contaminating everyone, but I'm completely lost when it comes to reversing that. Trini, too."

"An excellent suggestion," Zordon said. "In the meantime…"

"Figure out where the freedom fighters are," Jason said.

"Can we even still call them that?" said Zack. "I mean, that was pretty much an alternate reality that they don't remember, and you saw how hard they fought to work for Zedd. I don't think we're dealing with the same people now."

"I don't get it," Kimberly said. "Aisha, Rocky, and Adam are cool. They wouldn't do this."

"And you'd know that from how? All that surveillance you did from the Moon Palace?" Zack said.

Kimberly glared. "Okay, that does it. I'm sorry I shot you. That make you happy? I'm sorry I did all that stuff under Lord Zedd's spell, but I didn't think you'd run off as a result."

"Not helpful, guys," Tommy reiterated.

"It's not what you did," Jason said. "It's what you became… and you did it willingly. I noticed you conveniently kept your Power Coin before you turned evil. Even though you said you'd give it up so you wouldn't be used as a weapon against us."

"So you're saying, even though I was under a spell, everything I did was my fault?" Kimberly's voice grew a bit shrill as she tried to hold back tears.

"That's obviously what they want to avoid, Kim," Billy said, keeping his eyes on the scan read-outs. "They think if they stay, they eventually go evil as well. They think they'll be… tainted… by evil, as we are."

"Wouldn't you think that's a rather valid argument?" Trini countered.

"Maybe you agree with what Mr. Kaplan said," Kimberly said. "That it's really the Power Rangers' fault that Angel Grove is so messed up? That we cause the violence? Is that why you're getting out?"

The alert rang through the Command Center. The Rangers looked up at the flashing lights, and then at the Viewing Globe. The globe, however, showed nothing new. Just the crowd at the Youth Center dispersing.

Tommy released the manual controls, and the Rangers realized it was he who had tripped the alarm.

"Good," he said in a quiet voice. "Now that I've got all your attention, let's focus in on the real problem… namely, that Lord Zedd has apparently done something to cause our entire town to go crazy, and now he has three hostages. Whatever their intentions, I think we can agree that they're relatively innocent in this matter, which merits saving them.

"Jason, Zack, and Trini are leaving. That's their right, and Zordon always said we could leave. They've served for a long time, so they're not running away. They're just doing something different with their life, and that's okay. We don't have to interpret that as a betrayal.

"In the meantime, guys, Billy and Kimberly are shocked and hurt, so lashing out at them about their forays into evil spells is not fair. Besides, neither of them were half as good at being evil as I was," Tommy ended in a smirk. "So how about we calm down, Billy and Trini can keep assessing the scans so we can fix whatever has happened to Angel Grove, and is probably affecting us, despite the protection of power coins and the Command Center, and the rest of us can come up with some way to save our three freedom fighters. We've got to move before Zedd escalates the battle."

"I'd say he already escalated it, what with the monster," Jason said in a quiet voice.

Tommy frowned. "Monster?"

During the dressing down, the Rangers had been looking away from Tommy, ashamed at the dressing down and the fact that Zordon was allowing Tommy to do it rather than taking over himself. Now the Rangers looked closely at Tommy.

"The monster…" Zack said slowly. "The one in the park, from the unity statue. We just tried to fight it."

"Oh… right," Tommy smiled. "Must have forgotten with all the yelling."

"The monster has made no moves against civilians as of yet," Zordon said. "Therefore we can turn our attention to other matters until Lord Zedd makes his next move. Billy and Trini will continue assessing the scans. Trini, I believe you've done the most work with breaking evil spells. Zack, Jason, and Kimberly, I believe you three will best serve as reconnaissance. See if you can find more information than we can through our scans or the Viewing Globe. Perhaps you can even find the source of the infection. Tommy…"

"Right, Zordon," Tommy said, and then left without comment.

"I think my equipment in my lab will best serve us," Billy said. "It can take scans of the contaminated area without as much interference." He took an uncomfortable side-long glance at Trini. "We'll need to teleport in the backyard. New security measures."

"Right," Trini said, and they teleported out.

"I'd usually say split up, but we may need the back-up. Let's start searching around the school, since that's where this seemed to have started," Jason said.

"I'll be right there," Kimberly said. "I just need to check on something."

Jason and Zack gave her suspicious looks, but they weren't willing to start another fight, so they teleported out without comment.

Kimberly crossed her arms. "All right, Z-man… spill."

Zordon's eyes widened at the nickname. "Would you care to clarify, Kimberly?"

She sighed. "How about… there's something wrong with Tommy, and I want to know what it is."


"There's something wrong with them," Goldar growled.

Mist surrounded the three warriors… no, teenagers. They were teenagers. And, despite their bravado, they looked absolutely terrified. They were currently in the training room at the Moon Palace. Goldar didn't dare bring humans into the throne room.

"Or, rather… nothing's wrong with them," he finished. He glared at the three, but they looked straight ahead. "As in…"

"You're right," Finster said. "They have not been affected by the spell over Angel Grove. Or, more precisely, they have not been in Angel Grove long enough to be fully infected."

"Which means we've got ourselves some wannabe heroes." Goldar grinned, and the three flinched.

"I don't know what you're talking about," one of the boys said. "We fought hard to get here, and we want to serve Ze… Lord Zedd," he corrected.

"You're prepared to enforce Lord Zedd's rule on Earth," Goldar said, circling the three. "To fight and, if necessary, kill any human who goes against Lord Zedd."

"Why do you think we're here?" the girl said.

Goldar chuckled. "Oh, I know exactly why you're here. You see, I was watching you fight. Including your little pow-wow behind the juice bar."

The three were starting to sweat, starting to look for exits. They didn't realize just how trapped they were.

"Then why did you bring us up here?" the other boy said. "You knew we didn't want to serve you, that we were only up here to act as spies."

"Because your plan made no sense," Goldar said, now facing them again. "Act as spies for whom? The Power Rangers? How are you going to get in touch with them? For that matter, how did you plan to get out of here alive if you didn't manage to convince me you were willing to work as hired killers? Wouldn't the Rangers, for that matter, immediately think you were under the same spell the rest of the town was under?"

Goldar's grin widened as fear truly dawned on the teenagers' faces. They really hadn't thought it all through. That was okay: he had.

"Your only option, other than death, of course, is to do as you said: to serve Lord Zedd. In the meantime, I cannot keep you here in the moon. I don't want the Power Rangers to try for a break-in here to rescue you."

He nodded at Finster, who backed away. He approached the three, and they tried to edge away, but not before he teleported them all.

The cave he chose was dank, and filled with Putties. It was on the outskirts of Angel Grove, and was at a weak spot in the Command Center's surveillance. Rita had used it multiple times for various projects.

Immediately, the Putties surrounded them and forced the three teenagers against the wall. Goldar whipped out a chain and lashed it out at them. The chain went across their chests and arms, pinning all three to the wall. Goldar looked on in approval. Scorpina had left several toys, but this one was by far the most useful.

"I did say you had options," Goldar said. "You could surrender willingly, or you could be forced. Either way, you're going under a spell to make things easier."

"Doesn't sound like much of a choice," one of the boys growled.

"What's your name?" Goldar said.

The boy glared defiantly, pulling against the chain along with the others. "Rocky."

Goldar smirked. "The name itself tells that you will be… solid. You are not one to give in easily… but as I said, there is a choice. Finster, if you have it ready, teleport it down now."

There was a bright flash, and a snake appeared on stalactite just opposite the teens. The three stopped struggling and regarded the snake with fear.

"The choice…" Goldar said. "The snake will bite you. Nothing's going to stop that. Not struggling, not luck… and especially not the Rangers. They won't be able to find you, so forget about being rescued. It's not going to happen. Once the snake bites you, you will be infected with the very same thing that is making the populace of Angel Grove loyal to Lord Zedd, only now it will be in concentrated amounts. The venom is… rather unstable in its reaction to human brain chemistry. If you are already willing to serve Lord Zedd, if you have come to terms with it and welcome the venom, you will keep your own minds. If you still resist, even as the snake bites you, the venom will cause your brain to burn with madness. You will turn feral. Still useful to me, but…" Goldar let that hang in the air. "So that's your choice. Service… or madness. I've left you with a snake that will take its time, so you have a chance to make up your mind." He turned to go.

"Wait!" the girl shouted. "You can't just leave us here!"

Goldar laughed. "Perhaps this will make you think twice about these… heroics."

He left them with the Putties, and the snake.


With the added security, Billy and Trini couldn't get in the garage-lab through the outside door, instead going through the double-security layer through the front door and then the kitchen door.

Instead of going straight through to the kitchen, Billy stopped, causing Trini to bump into him. The living room was completely full of parents. Kimberly's and Zack's brothers were sitting on the floor, and the rest of the parents rose when they heard the door.

Sylvia bustled forward after setting down a tray laden with coffee cups. "I know there's security on all of our houses, but everyone decided to join up here... to wait for you, I suppose."

"And here they are," Dr. Taylor said with satisfaction. "Now, before you two hole yourself up in that laboratory, you're going to tell us what's going on."

"We'd really appreciate it," Kimberly's mother tacked on.

Billy took a breath and looked a little wildly at Trini, who closed her eyes and nodded.

"You've all probably noticed that the citizens of Angel Grove have turned a little..."

"Insane?" Mr. Lee finished for her.

Trini smiled at him. "Or something like that. We're sure it's some kind of spell... a toxin in the air. We need to analyze what it is and where it's coming from. The others are doing reconnaissance."

"I suppose what we're asking, Trini," her mother said, "is what we can do to help."

This time Trini looked a little startled. There had not been a major crisis since their parents had found out about, and even closely participated in, their work as Power Rangers. Zordon possibly knew the parents had gathered, but he'd probably never even thought about the parents wanting to help.

"I'm sorry," Billy said. "I know you probably all want to get out there and help, but that would be rather dangerous at this time. None of you are affected by the toxin, and we think that's because of your proximity to us, or the security in the houses, or your time at the Command Center. Whichever way, you're in danger, both from Lord Zedd and from the other citizens. Rita used you against us, and I don't think Zedd would hesitate."

"Then we might be of better use at the Command Center," Mrs. Lee suggested.

Both Billy and Trini looked away.

Sylvia smiled thinly. "My guess is that Zordon does not wish us up there."

"Tensions are pretty high right now up there," said Trini. "After we get the first of the scans set up, I'll given Zordon a call."

Sylvia placed a hand on Trini's shoulder in thanks. "Oh, and dear... congratulations on the Leadership Conference... even though it hasn't turned out so well so far."

Trini's parents, as well as Jason's and Zack's, beamed as Kimberly's parents joined Sylvia with their support. The two backed into the lab, Trini looked startled yet pleased, and Billy looking rather sheepish.

"I'm sorry I wasn't the first to congratulate you," Billy said in a rush as soon as they'd closed the door. "And then yelled at you."

Trini smiled and nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't give you the chance. I said some pretty horrible things up there."

They hugged, and when they parted they looked much less burdened. They were both wondering if they were every going to be able to make a right decision without their parents showing them the way.

On the other side of the lab door, the parents gathered closer in the living room and spoke in whispers.

"So we got our answer, it seems," Dr. Taylor said. "We can go forward with the plan."

"Do you think we should have told them?" Frank said. "I mean, they can't know about the meeting at City Hall..."

"They've got enough on their plate right now," Mr. Lee said. "Zedd can't know we aren't affected if we don't act the part, and he's probably not paying attention to us anyway."

"Why can't we go?" Zack's eldest brother Byron said. "I'm fourteen... I'm only two years younger than Zack."

"Because it is dangerous," Mr. Taylor said. "And I'm not going either. Us boys will monitor and raise the alarm if things turn south."

Sylvia took at glance at the lab door, which remained closed. "Right... if this meeting is indeed about de-powering the Power Rangers, even if they don't have an idea that's anywhere near workable, we're not going to let them do anything to our kids."

Mr. Lee nodded. "We go in, figure it out, shut it down. Sylvia, were you able to get it?"

Sylvia held up the communicator. "I wasn't able to get in the lab, but I found a spare in Billy's room. It will be able to connect to the wall communicator next to the front door."

"Then let's do this," Kimberly's mother said grimly. "I'm not letting that monster get his hands on my baby ever again... either of them," she ruffled Kevin's hair.


"You're stalling," Kimberly accused Zordon, her arms crossed against excuses.

Zordon looked at her steadily. Since he'd recovered from her calling him "Z-Man," he did not look discomfited at all at her insistent questioning.

"I am stalling... perhaps a little," Zordon said steadily. "I am considering the wisdom of answering your question, particularly since it involves rather private topics between Tommy and me."

"Okay, now I know you're stalling," Kimberly said. "I know Tommy doesn't talk much about what happened to him. Truth is... neither have I." She kept her eyes open, willing the tears burning there not to fall. "Tommy and I haven't really talked or spent much time together since... well... since he came back from the dead. That's my fault. I've been avoiding him. Even if he wanted to talk to me, I haven't made it easy on him."

"You've been recovering, Kimberly," Zordon reminded her. "We all have. It's perfectly natural to feel disconnected from others after what you've gone through."

Kimberly laughed. "As if there were anything natural in what I went through. I let myself be Zedd's puppet. He..." Kimberly choked on the words, and she knew the stupid tears were betraying her again.

Zordon did not speak. He merely waited.

"Zedd and I... we... ended up... close," Kimberly finished lamely, even that ambiguous statement physically hurting her.

Zordon nodded. "If you will remember, Rita and Tommy became rather close, forming a mother/son bond over time, something I don't think is ever really going to go away. Even though you broke the bond yourself, you will still feel vestiges..."

Kimberly's eyes flashed angrily. "I don't feel any... vestiges," she said. "I find him repulsive."

"That's understandable, too," Zordon said, changing tracks quickly. "After all, he did force you into a terrible situation..."

A sob from Kimberly cut Zordon off. He stared at her, his attention growing into genuine worry.

"Zordon... when I say we were close, I mean... we were close."

"I don't understand."

Kimberly gave a pained look. "I mean... 'bedroom' close..."

Zordon's eyes flew wide. "Kimberly, he didn't... force you..."

Kimberly held up her arms. "No, Zordon, nothing like that. I mean... not really." She looked down, intensely aware that she was sharing something far too personal with Zordon, and yet she felt like he'd be the only one who could understand. "You remember when you said that... that war would change us? I never really thought it would affect me. Not really." Kimberly gulped. "With L... Zedd, I compromised. Before the spell, after the spell. I changed, and it felt good for a while. It felt good to be not me."

"Until it didn't," Zordon finished.

Kimberly gave a choky sort of laugh. "Until it didn't."

Zordon closed his eyes, as if choosing his words carefully. "Kimberly, Zedd has not always looked the way he does. And he certainly has a certain charisma... which he uses to intimidate, to exploit, to manipulate. He can lead you down a path that you believe you chose yourself. But you didn't. He forced you down that path, using your brother... your boyfriend..."

Kimberly smiled slowly. "I get what you're saying. And he's not the only one who can manipulate. I remember starting this by talking about Tommy." She crossed her arms again. "What's wrong with him?"

Zordon hesitated. "If I tell you, Kimberly... will you promise not to blame yourself?"

Kimberly shrugged, putting on her best cheerleader smile. "You know me, Z-man. I'm as carefree as it gets."

Zordon stared at her, but she didn't back down.

"As Tommy told you, when he was presumed dead, he was actually traveling through dimensions," Zordon began. "The first few dimensions were Zedd's fault, but then Tommy was able to escape and travel to several other dimensions, unknowingly using the Eltarian power I gave him to create the portals and protect himself."

"Yeah, he told us that much," Kimberly said. "He was a bit tight-lipped about what dimensions he went to."

"We all have experiences we can't share," Zordon pointed out. "The point is that no human should have been able to do that. Tommy did it by instinct, as he conducts much of his life. Dive in head-first, never think about the consequences."

"And the consequences?" Kimberly asked.

Zordon frowned. "He was able to protect himself... mostly. Yet wielding my energy and hopping through dimensions took a large toll on his brain. He literally came unstuck in time and space, and humans are designed to be grounded and linear. It effected his time-sense, mostly. Tommy was already forgetful, but the dimension-hopping has done more damage to his short-term memory. He will also more easily lose track of time."

"So... he's brain-damaged?" Kimberly said in a small voice.

"Do you remember your promise that you wouldn't blame yourself, Kimberly?"

Kimberly wiped her eyes. "I didn't exactly promise that."

Zordon smiled fondly. "You don't have to worry, Kimberly. 'Brain damage' is perhaps too dramatic a term. Everything that has happened to him is for the most part reversible, and I've been working with him. He's going to be forgetful for a while, and he'll be late or early for things. If you wish to help, I can give you some exercises to do with him."

"Does he know?"

"He does," Zordon said, "though the nature of his problem prevents him from realizing the severity of it. Tommy was always more worried about the present than the future anyway. It serves him well as a fighter, but of course he's not always a fighter."

Kimberly nodded. "I... I'm sorry I made you tell me. I promise I'll help make him better. I've been wallowing." She raised her head. "Yeah, I blame myself, but I'm going to do something about that."

Zordon nodded, knowing that would have to do. "I believe Alpha can teleport you near the others, if you wish to join them in surveillance."

Kimberly scrubbed her face to get rid of the last of the tears. "Beam away," she said.


Kimberly found herself in an alley near downtown. She saw Jason and Zack at the opening of the alley, peering around the corner.

"Hey," she said.

Both Jason and Zack jumped, and Kimberly crouched in defense just in case their more fight-y reflexes kicked in.

"Don't scare us like that," Zack said. "We're gonna lose them."

Jason looked back around the corner. "They're near the end of the street. Come on."

They started walking down the street, Kimberly behind Jason and Zack so that her view was blocked. "Who are we following?" she said in a semi-whisper.

"Bulk and Skull," Zack said.

Kimberly stopped for a second, and then ran to catch up. "Why?" she said incredulously.

"Because they're the only ones who aren't rallying against the Rangers... besides our parents, apparently," Jason said. "We know that our parents are protected by our powers and the security on the houses. We're trying to figure out why Bulk and Skull are immune."

Kimberly frowned, considering. There was that graffiti Skull had written on the side of the school, the one that looked like the word "Haven," implying that he at least subconsciously knew that the school had been called Haven during the two weeks that never were. Could that have something to do with it? Kimberly hadn't told anyone, as it hadn't seemed all that important compared to all the other things she was going through...

She decided to bring it up later. Right now it was better to shadow them. They may not have been hailing Lord Zedd, but they were definitely suspicious. For one thing, they were walking purposefully, and Bulk kept glaring at Skull. No joking around, no banter. Definitely not usual behavioral patterns.

As they turned another corner and waited until Bulk and Skull got far enough ahead, Kimberly heard the words "I'm sorry."

Zack was looking at her, and Jason kept glancing from the corner of his eye.

"It was out of line," Zack continued. "What I said to you."

Kimberly chuckled. "Can I say 'ditto?'" She sighed. "I was out of line, too. I was just... taken by surprise."

"It's just..."

"I know why you're leaving... why you're both leaving," Kimberly said. "In fact..." she sighed again. "Zedd told me about the clues and what they meant. I've just been... waiting for this. I was just expecting it to come straight from you guys, not as an announcement.

Jason and Zack looked shocked at her confession. She hadn't really talked much about what had happened at the Moon Palace... for good reason. She had definitely not wanted to tell them that she knew that they were going to leave, and that she knew why.

"Billy was upset. He's got issues with losing people," Kimberly said. "But he'll come around. And I think Tommy seemed pretty okay with it. It... it doesn't mean I'm not going to miss you guys."

Both Jason and Zack were looking at her now, and it looked like it was going to turn into a hug moment, but then she noticed Bulk and Skull were getting out of sight.

"Group hug later, guys," she said. "Right now we're losing them."

They followed the two to the suburbs. When they got to the turn-off of a certain street, Kimberly grabbed Jason's and Zack's elbows.

"What?" Jason said.

"They're headed to Skull's house," Kimberly said. "Nothing suspicious about that."

"Except for the fact that you know where Skull lives," Zack said.

Kimberly rolled her eyes. "And you would too, if you hadn't had soccer camp on his thirteenth birthday. I, on the other hand, went when my mom threatened to not let me get my ears pierced if I didn't go."

"Yeah, and like I would have gone if I hadn't had soccer camp," Zack said under his breath.

Kimberly held her tongue. She didn't say that it had only been herself, Bulk, and two other kids whose parents had forced them to come, after Skull's mom had invited their entire class. They had mountains of pizza and ice cream, and Skull's cousin Femur did a magic show. She remembered actually enjoying herself... and Skull had had a crush on her ever since.

Instead, she said, "Was that our only lead? I mean, how much do you think we can find out by following them home? They're probably just going to work on their motorcycle or watching cartoons or..."

They heard raised voices and a crash. The three looked at each other in surprise, and then ran down the street.

Kimberly shot ahead, knowing which house to go to. The Skullovich house had a garage much like Billy's, and the garage door was wide open, affording the three Rangers a view of the two friends, who looked like they were having their worst fight ever.

Bulk and Skull fought upon occasion. Of course, there was their everyday fights that didn't matter all that much. Those were more like banter. Bulk would get annoyed by Skull's many annoying habits, shove him a bit, Skull would retaliate... but it was never anything serious.

Then there were two occasions in recent memory where they'd had actual arguments. Silence and avoidance followed: Bulk would hang out with the football players, Skull with the kids who wore black and spent lunch on the park bench behind the school. That had lasted a few unpleasant weeks, and then they'd forgotten what they were fighting about and made up.

This... this was different. They were yelling at each other, and from the way Bulk was holding his arms, it was soon to turn into a physical fight.

"We can't do the plan now!" Skull yelled, his voice going an octave higher than normal. He looked like he knew Bulk was about to attack him, because he had his hand on the tool table, groping for something to shield himself without hurting Bulk. "Not with the town as whacked out as it is!"

"What do you mean 'whacked out?'" Bulk answered, his face turning a deeper shade of red. "That's why we have to do the plan! We find out the identities of the Power Rangers, we turn them in, we get favor with Lord Zedd!"

"Look..." Skull said calmly. He looked like he'd decided against a weapon, and he was going to try to talk Bulk down. "You love the Power Rangers. We both do... that's why we're trying to find out their identities. Why'd you turn against them like this? What? For a creepy monster guy like Lord Bread?"

A vein looked like it was about to pop on Bulk's forehead. "It's Lord ZEDD, you lamebrain!"

Skull laughed unpleasantly. "Don't like that, do you? Hail, Lord Bread! Hail, Lord..."

Bulk screamed and ran at Skull... but not before Jason, Zack, and Kimberly intercepted. It took all of Jason's and Zack's strength to stop Bulk in his tracks, while Kimberly, feeling a keen sense of deja vu, grabbed Skull's hand and ran for it.

They were down the street by the time Jason and Zack caught up.

"Why was there a set of handcuffs in your garage, Skull?" Zack said.

Skull was gasping for breath, not used to sprinting like that. "I... Cousin Femur... magic show..."

"Well, if they're trick handcuffs, Bulk can't figure out the trick," Jason said, somewhat winded himself. It was no joke to take on the school's top defensive lineman in a high rage. "What was that all about?"

"I dunno," Skull said. "Whole town's turned weird. Not you guys, though..." Skull looked at them, suspicious. "Why were you guys there in the first place?"

"Following you and Bulk," Kimberly admitted.

"Isn't that my line?" Skull grinned.

"Like you said, the whole town's weird," Zack said. "We were wondering why you guys weren't joining any of the rallies. We're trying to figure out what's going on, if the Power Rangers can't do anything without getting mobbed. Have you noticed anything?"

Skull shrugged. "I guess you heard that Bulky and I are trying to figure out who the Power Rangers are. Have been ever since they saved us on the camping trip. We had a rock-solid plan... but now Bulky wants to use it to turn the Rangers in." Skull scowled. "He's not in his right mind, of course, and he'd never forgive me if I let him do that."

Kimberly was dying to ask what this plan was to catch the Power Rangers, but it wasn't that important, and she knew Skull wouldn't tell her.

"Do you have a safe place?" Jason said. "You might want to get out of town, just in case Bulk gets out and comes looking."

Skull cocked his head. "One, I'm not running away. Two... haven't you heard? The police have blocked off all exits from town. No one gets in, and no one gets out. Not until the big peace rally tonight at City Hall."

Jason, Zack, and Kimberly all looked at each other. They had to get rid of Skull, but he was too much at risk from everyone else. They also had to figure out why he wasn't affected when everyone else in town was.

"Billy and Trini are cooking up some kind of sensor at his place," Kimberly suggested. "Maybe they're finished, and we can shut this down before this escalates too much."

Skull backed off. "Yeah... that's okay. I can't just leave Bulk handcuffed like that. I'll try and see if I can snap him out of it... you guys do what you gotta do."

"All right," Kimberly said reluctantly. "Be careful."

"You know me," Skull grinned, and ran back down the street.

"I don't like it," Jason said. "Bulk was crazed. I could barely take him. Do you think we could..."

"It's not like we can give Skull any orders, and we needed to get rid of him," Zack said. Then he held up two small vials. "I got what we needed, anyway. Trini told me to gather any samples from anyone who wasn't effected. I got hair from Skull, and some from Bulk as a control."

"I've got a theory about Skull... but we can't say anything in the open," Kimberly said. "For now, we need to get to Billy's, and we also need to ask if we can erect any extra security around Skull's house, just so Zedd doesn't make him into a target."

"Good thinking," Jason said. Making sure they were alone on the street, they touched their communicators and disappeared.


"If we get out of here, I swear I'll never talk us into doing something stupid ever again."

Adam rolled his eyes, and Aisha snorted in derision.

Rocky sagged. "Okay, I know now it was stupid to do this. But..."

"It wasn't completely stupid," Aisha said. "Definitely heroic."

"Misguided is the word I would use," Adam said.

Rocky huffed. The snake was waking up and starting to move. It would eventually move toward them, and if the gold monkey was right, their brains would probably be burned out. There was no way any of them could accept being evil.

He took another breath and let it out. Then another.

"Huh," Rocky said.

"What?" Aisha said sharply. "You see anything different? Anything Power Ranger shaped?"

"Nope," said Rocky. "But I did notice when I took a breath in and out, the chains loosened just a little. This link used to be right at the middle button on my shirt. Now it's just right under."

Adam laughed. "What did I tell you? When things get bad, just breathe."

And the three set to work breathing, trying to loosen the chains, and the snake slowly angled its way toward them.