After her talk with Chase and learning the real reason behind the pills, Megan still suspected he was leaving a few things out. It had to be something more than just trouble sleeping at night, but she decided for now that would have to be enough.

Megan and Chase had become quick friends, for some reason that Chase couldn't quite figure out. He found that it was somewhat easy to talk about things with Megan. Things that he couldn't talk about with his former commanding officer, Commander Corbett.

"So is Sam kind of like your boyfriend?" asked Chase, as he continued to do his push-ups on his bedroom floor.

"No!" Megan protested as she turned to him, giving a disgusted kind of look. "Where would you get an idea like that?"

"Just curious. Seems like a nice kid."

Megan just shook her head; as far as she was concerned Sam and she were just friends. He seemed more like a younger brother or cousin, than someone who she would ever be interested in as more than just a friend. Then again she was only fourteen, still too young to be thinking about boys in that way; at least as far as her father was concerned she wasn't going to date anyone for a very long time. She wondered over to Chases dresser. "Are these your parents?" asked Megan, picking up a picture of a young couple from his dresser.

"Yeah." Chase had gotten up and walked up behind her, taking the picture from her. His face was sad looking at it, as he rubbed his thumb over their faces.

That was when Megan realized something, something she didn't have to ask or needed him to say. Chase's parents were dead. The look on his face had said it all, perhaps that was what made it so easy for him to leave his home planet and come here. She turned away and her eyes fell on another picture, one with Chase in it with a beautiful young woman, his arms wrapped tightly around her, along with one teenage boy and two younger boys. "Who are they?"

Chase set the picture of his parents down and looked at the other picture. For a moment he just stared at it, the smiling happy faces; it even brought a smile to his face. "That's my fiancée Callie and her brother Michael, and their two little cousins, Dean and Dylan."

"You're engaged?" Megan turned to him, slightly surprised since he had never mentioned it before. "Did Callie come with you to Earth?"

At first Chase didn't answer, as if trying to figure out a way of saying this and then replied. "Yeah, she came with me…."

"Then where is she, why isn't she staying here in the apartment?" She could go on with more and more questions…

"..She wanted to be someplace else." Chase smiled faintly.

"You must miss her."

Chase nodded his head and answered. "….every day." He bit his lip. "But I'll be seeing her soon."

"That's great. I bet she'll be happy to see you."

"Megan, you should get packed up to head back to the Academy tomorrow," they heard Sky holler.

Sky and Chase were sparring in the SPD Academy's gym, giving each other a hard and almost exhausting workout. The other Rangers, Syd, Z and Bridge, watched the two, amazed how they seemed to be able to match each other move for move.

It had only been a couple of days since the other Rangers were introduced to their new teammate and second in command. Chase seemed well enough like a good guy to them, but did seem to be a fairly private person. He didn't seem to talk about himself, and if anyone ever brought up what it was like to live and grow up on Mirinoi, he would find a way to change the subject if things started to get into depth. Which is why they could all see why he and Sky seemed to get along, though Chase did seem to have the friendlier personality; both of them were pretty quiet when it came to talking about themselves.

"Not bad, but don't think I'll go easy on you just because it's your birthday," grinned Chase, as he threw a few punches into Sky's face.

Sky easily blocked them; he had trained for years and had become an excellent fighter. It wasn't until Chase had showed up that he had any real competition. "Wouldn't expect you to." Sky tossed in a few of his own punches followed by a round kick that was headed towards Chase's head, but Chase was ready for him and quickly countered the kick as he dodged the blow to his head, catching Sky unguarded and landing him flat on the mat.

"Nice one, Chase, it's not every day someone gets the best of Sky," laughed Z.

"Not bad, you almost had me," said Chase, as he held out his hand to Sky, to help him up.

"Thanks." Sky took Chase's hand. "So, ready for round two?" asked Sky as he got into a fighting stance. "This time, you'll be the one going down."

"We'll just have to see about that."

The two were about to go at it again, when… "Would Lt. Tate please report to the Command Base. Lt. Tate, report to the Command Base."

"We'll finish this later." Sky eyed Chase and then caught his towel that Syd tossed at him. "I'll meet up with you guys later." Sky headed out of the gym to go see what Commander Cruger wanted.

Once Sky was gone, the others decided they should take a break from their workout routine and get reenergized, and all headed to the break room where they could wind down. Bridge and Z walked over to one of the tables to eat, while Syd planted herself on the couch with a good book. Chase took his seat, talking with one of the B squad cadets and giving him pointers on fighting techniques.

"So what do you think Chase's story is?" asked Bridge as he talked quietly with Z.

"Beats me, the guy's harder to read than Sky is." Z shrugged her shoulders. "I even asked Jack if he ever heard of him. Supposedly he was Mirinoi's top ranking A squad Red Ranger, in line to be a commander."

Bridge finished taking a bite of his toast. "Then why'd he leave to come here for a lower rank? It would be like…."

Z, seeing that Bridge was going to go into one of his elaborate explanations, decided to jump in with a response. "I know it doesn't make any sense." She took a sip of her water. "Definitely not the kind of thing you would expect. Look at Sky, this wouldn't be the kind of thing he would do." She was recalling how it was during the first few months of them being Rangers and how upset Sky had been that he was given a lower rank than he thought he had deserved.

"Did Jack know anything else?"

Z shook her head. "No. ….You know how good he was about keeping up with the galactic reports."

Bridge nodded his head, knowing that on a few occasions Jack had slacked off on his duty time. That was when Jack had realized that he didn't want to work with SPD or be a Ranger, that he wanted to help the world in another way. The green Ranger looked over to Chase, whose back was to him. There was one very easy way to figure out what Chase's story was and he was the only person who could figure it out. He started to slip off his glove…..

"What are you doing?" Z placed her hand over his gloves.

"I'm going to read his aura…."

"No, you're not…." Z shook her head.

"It's not dangerous. I could even try it on you, so you can see." Bridge smiled. "Maybe I could just see what you have been doing these past couple of months, that secret mission that Cruger sent you on."

"You're not going to do it Bridge, it's rude and an invasion of privacy."

"I don't seem to recall anyone having any objections when it happened with the former A Squad."

"That was different. And besides, you saw it with your mind."

"Fine. I'll use my mind." Bridge leaned his head forward, getting ready to concentrate, when Z firmly pushed her green friend's head back.

"You're not going to do that either."

Sky entered the Command Center and walked over to Commander Cruger. "Sir!" he saluted. 'You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, I did." Cruger nodded his head, letting Sky know that he could be at ease. The two had a long history, with a lot of bumpy roads, but through it all the two had developed great respect for each other, even though at times they still did disagree. Cruger knew his relationship with Sky was much different than with the others and a lot of it had to do with Wes, Sky's father. He felt somewhat responsible for the young man and at times might even protect him far more than he should. He knew Sky was quite old enough to be taking care of himself and did not need an old dog looking out for him.

He had learned that lesson back when he had withheld information about who was responsible for his father's death, when he had sent Sky to be face to face with him to get some information about a troublesome alien. That had been the day when Cruger realized he could no longer look at Sky as a boy, but as a man who was ready to know the truth about what had happened to his father. So from that day on Cruger had made a promise not to keep anything from Sky that concerned him. "Before I start on why I called you down here, I wanted to wish you a happy birthday."

"Thank you, sir," answered Sky. Even to this day his birthday didn't mean anything to him; it just was another day to him. His father had died a few days before, and then learning the truth about himself, about where he came from and how he came to be, he wasn't sure what his real birthday was. As far as he was concerned he was twenty-one today, a year older than he was yesterday.

Cruger nodded his head, he had known for years that Sky never was one to celebrate his birthday, so he knew not to make too much of a big deal out of it, but he had wanted to say something to try to avoid the reason why he had called him down. This was going to be somewhat of a difficulty for Sky to hear, even though he had dealt with it months ago, but still…. "I wanted you to hear from me before you heard it on the news about how Dru's trial went…"

Dru had been Sky's old friend who he had met at the Academy years ago when he had first joined. The two had become fast friends, but years later Dru would betray SPD. In fact he had been against them the whole time, working with Gruumm and Broodwing. He had nearly killed Cruger, but while on a mission he did kill another cadet, Marcos Jones. That had definitely put a strain on their friendship when Sky had learned the truth about him.

Sky didn't answer, knowing what the jury and judge had decided. Dru had committed murder, attempted murder and treason; there was little hope for his old friend. Especially when Dru would not accept Cruger's bargain of a lesser crime and being placed in a secured living environment. It had been because Cruger has been unable to help the others, the former A Squad who as children had been abducted and witnessed the deaths of their families. The same thing had happened to Dru. He had felt guilty and maybe responsible, feeling as though he should have seen it somehow.

"He was sentenced to life in prison and is being sent to the Nebula Containment Center." Cruger waited a moment to see if Sky would respond but he never did, just continued to keep his face firm and strong. "I did recommend against the death penalty, and they accepted…"

"I see, sir."

Cruger sighed. "He's scheduled to leave at 1500 hours."

"Was there anything else, sir?"

"No, that was it." Cruger didn't know what Sky would do with the information; he knew this would be likely Sky's only chance at seeing his former friend one last time. "You're free to go."

"Sir." Sky saluted once more before leaving the Command Center.

"You think he'll go see him?" asked Cruger.

"Hard to say," answered Kat, as she stepped away from her work. "No one really knows how much a friendship can withstand…." She recalled the many times she had seen the two together, laughing and goofing off; they were the best of friends, almost like brothers. Back then it seemed like nothing could ever come between them, but something had. Sky had been placed at a crossroads where he had to choose between duty or friend, and as hard as it was, he had to choose the former.

"Yes, that is true…." Cruger sighed, recalling how his one-time friend General Benaag had bitterly turned against him and eventually would betray him in the most unimaginable way. He pushed the memories away, no longer wanting to wallow in the past. He had done that for far too many years. This was his time to be starting over with his wife, to begin again. He faced Kat. "Has there been any more sighting of the Phantom?"

Kat shook her head. "No. It's been pretty quiet." Over the last couple of months there had been several bystanders throughout the galaxy saying they had all seen what they described as a Phantom: a sort of quick blur that showed up in the nick of time, but then disappeared before anyone could get a good look. "You think it's Clifford Chan, don't you?"

"It's possible, if our suspicious are correct and he is the son of the Phantom Ranger, then he would have had the ability to survive."

Kat smiled faintly, knowing that Cruger would like to talk to him, help him… "Even if it is him, you know he won't talk to you. What happened to him….the things he's seen…done…" Kat licked her lips.

"I know. It's just as they call him, Phantom, wandering, looking to make amends for all he has done." Cruger knew it was a big burden for the young man to carry, one he knew he would carry all his life.

Sky stood at the front entrance of the prison gate, as if pondering whether or not he should go in. What would be the point? It wasn't like Dru would be glad to see him. He hadn't been happy all those months ago, after Gruumm had been defeated. But maybe this was something he had to do for himself, maybe this was what he needed to be able to let go. Taking a deep breath…..

"You were the last person I expected to see." Dru looked up at Sky. "But then again I expected no less, you always were predictable." He smirked. "It won't be long until you'll be where I am now…."

"I'll never end up like you, Dru. I'll never be where you are."

"You say that now. But one day, one day will come, when you've had it with SPD, with Cruger, and you'll go after what you really want. And you won't give a damn what happens."

"I can guarantee that day will never come. I will never betray SPD or Cruger." Sky replied firmly.

"We'll see…."

Sky held back his anger and took a deep breath. He didn't want to fight, all he wanted was closure, so he could finally let go and move on with his life. "I just wanted to come here and say goodbye. …..We were friends."

"'Were' being the keyword there," answered Dru coolly, not seeming to care or be grateful that Sky had decided to show up when he had every reason not to.

Sensing he was unwelcome, "…You know what, have a nice life Dru. I'm sure you'll be very happy behind bars…." Sky turned away and started to stomp out.

"…..Happy Birthday, Sky," called out Dru, there was a hint of remorse in his voice, knowing that this would be the last time he would be able to say it. He knew this would be the very last time that he would ever see Sky, because where he was going there was no going back. He had made his choice a long time ago.

Sky turned back briefly, taking one last look at his old friend, knowing this really was goodbye. How had this happened? How had two people who once had been like brothers turn against each other, each on opposite sides? Would he ever really understand Dru's betrayal? Sky said no words; there was nothing left to say, he had said all he could, because no matter what he said Dru would find some way to twist everything around.

A man stood at the foot of the grave of a young woman. Cassie Chan, March 8th 1980 - June 17th 2006. He just stood there, staring at the grave that belonged to the young woman, who had never been able to live a full life, who had experienced so much pain, first with the murder of her lover and the believed death of her young son. She had never known the truth, that he had been alive all these years. Perhaps that was a good thing, better to think he was dead than in the hands of a monster, doing his bidding.

Cliff knelt at his mother's grave; he hadn't known her for long. She wasn't ever really pregnant with him. Eltarian children at the moment of being conceived show up in a spark of golden light, which is why they mature much faster during childhood. He was born shortly after the great battle that ranged throughout the universe. Not many knew of his existence, only a chosen few, his parents and then his mother's closest friends, the other Rangers.

"I vow to make amends for my sins, Mother." He traced her name with his finger. "Wherever there is evil, I will go and I will not stop, not until there is peace or until I take my final breath." Though he could not be killed easily, it did not mean that he couldn't die. His human half did make him vulnerable to such things. Even his father, who was full-blooded Eltarian son of one of the most powerful of wizards, had died. The former yellow A Squad ranger stood up, dusted his pants off and reached for his morpher.

"Going somewhere?"

Cliff did not make a move, not needing to know who the voice belonged to, he had already known. The voice had been all over, keeping out of sight, believing that he did not know she was there. Today would be the first time she would get a good look at his face, being able to prove all the suspicions that he knew were going on. "I must continue my mission." He turned to face her, the young woman, his former counterpart. "And you must remain here, for where I go, I must go alone."

"You don't have to, we can help you," pleaded Z. For the last couple of months she had been tracking Cliff, going to the places where people had believed they had seen the Phantom.

"There is no help for me."

"What about friends? Everyone needs a friend."

"Where I go, it is better I have no friends, no attachments, nothing holding me back."

"Everyone needs a friend." Z walked up to him, his face was so sad and lost. It was a look she knew all too well, because there was a time when that was what she felt like, until she met Jack and soon afterwards the other Rangers. She didn't know what it was about him that attracted her to him; maybe it was that they shared some kind of connection of knowing what it is like to be lost. She gently ran her hand across his face.

It had been so long since he had felt any sort of caring gentle touch; it was full of kindness and maybe even love. He felt himself lost in her touch, her grace. It made him feel things he didn't think were still possible for him. And though his heart told him to stay, he could not. It was his burden, his punishment for his sin. He stepped back, brushing her off. "Please do not follow me anymore, Z, tell Commander Cruger I wish not to be found." And with that said he disappeared in a flash of bright light.