A : N ; The part in the middle with Tommy, Jason and Kim? Tis a flashback. Hewhoreaps gave me the idea and it wouldn't leave me alone...Then I had an opening in the story and in it went.

Hewhoreaps →

Seems Ashley has an claiming effect on Andros not to mention maybe turning him good.

Maybe not turn him good, but she's defiantly calming him down quite a bit. Making him think a bit on his 'life choices', as clichéd as that is.

Wonder what Kim and Tommy have been up in this time but guess we'll find out in the future

Who knows? Getting into trouble somehow, more than likely!

Chapter Seven ; Complicated

Thursday, Nov. 22 1998

2.50 p.m

Lunar Palace

Andros lifted his head from his book as the throne room doors were thrown open, and then hastily removed his feet from where he had them rested on the throne's arm. The emperor of evil strode into the room, anger outlining every cell of his body. He seemed to glow a darker white than before, and Andros was once again reminded on how the current ruler had defeated the former.

"I hate bounty hunters!" The brown haired man snarled, sprawling in his throne. "Such a pain in the damn ass!"

"Dark Honda is indeed an insufferable jerk," Andros piped up, if only because Tommy was waiting for his response.

Tommy snorted; he and Kim had met with the bounty hunter, interviewing him to see if he were an acceptable addition to their army of generals. It had been a mistake. The stupid alien had managed to come on to Kim and piss them both off. It had ended with a fight, Dark Honda falling to burning pieces, blah blah blah.

"Well, you won't have to worry about him for a while. In fact, no one ever will again." Kim said as she swept in from the entrance. She was wearing clothes today, much to Andros's surprise. A black skirt of some clingy material and a pink bikini top, not that he ogled, of course; he liked living too much.

"Oh," Andros gave them a blank face and a slight response. He didn't know what would piss them off, so lack of emotion was the best track to take.

Tommy smirked and his eyes gleamed as anger seemed to melt out of him. "Andros, I have a job for you," He waited until the Prince of Evil lowered his head in a slight bow. "I want to you go through Dark Honda's ship. Fine his contacts, his jobs, find out everything about him. I want to know everything from his underwear color to his first and last kill. Got it?"

"Yes, my lord." There was a pause, but only a split second one. "What of my other job? Destroying the Power Rangers?"

"I'll take care of them," Andros held back a sigh of relief as his ruler spoke. He really didn't want to kill them. "After five days of political meets, I could use a workout."

That statement somewhat pissed the Prince off. He might not like the Rangers, and he might think Earth was useless, but they had honor and he respected them. They were a good team and they fought well enough to pose a challenge to him. They were more than a 'workout'.

Then he blinked and realized exactly what he'd been thinking. There had been a time not long ago when he had hated every living thing, where he went for the blood and the kill despite honor. Somewhere along the line, his thoughts had been changing.

"I blame the girl," A voice spoke to his left, and he blinked and turned to look at his empress.

"What?" He couldn't help the question that bubbled out of him.

It was his emperor than answered. "Oh, come now, you didn't think we were out of the loop on this." Tommy's feet dropped to the floor and he leaned his elbows against his knees, smirking. "We know everything that goes on in our home and in your head. Never doubt that."

Kimberly took over, "See, we know you've been visiting this human girl, and frankly, it's sickening." She smiled gently, "But it's a company policy to not butt into the social lives of our...subjects, unless you happen to be dating someone who could pose a problem."

It was like watching pinball or twins. They kept finishing each other's thoughts. "But if she's making you weak, making you...unable to do your job, we'll have to take care of her. Remember that, Andros."

"You are dismissed now. Go visit your current victim now!" Kimberly waved a hand at him, and he was too shocked to do anything other than leave.

Tommy laughed as the double doors shut behind the young man. "Such a conflicted boy," He mocked, "Consorting with humans and the side of good."

Kimberly laid her head in his lap after a second, letting him run his fingers through her straightened hair. "He thinks we can read his mind," She commented after a second.

"A magic I wish was at our disposal, though good spies are just as effective." Tommy stated, still watching the double doors. His eyes sputtered from white to brown once more, and his smile softened, the expression odd on a face that just a second ago was just so evil. "What do you say to more ghosting?"

A slow smile spread on Kimberly's face, and she rotated her head to look up at him. "Always fun."

Thursday, Nov. 22 1998

3.10 p.m

Angel Grove Park

Jason walked along the shore, making his way to the Rock (with a capital R). He remembered when he was a teenager, he and the others would come and hang out by the lake, and Kim used to always sit on the Rock, dubbing it her 'throne'. At least, it had been until she'd died, then the group had decided not to frequent the place anymore. Of course, every once in a while, one of the team would come and think at Kim's Spot.

While everything else might have changed, from their own selves to the city around them, the Rock stayed the same. It had the same gentle feeling, the same cool breeze and the same feeling of goodness that had always been there, that had always surrounded Kim.

Giving a sigh once again, Jason moved his gaze from the ground and froze in his steps. On top of the huge flat-topped rock stood a woman, or at least what looked like a woman. Small and slight, she stood against the stark blue of the sky and the steel of the rock.

She turned towards him and Jason stepped forward, finally getting a look at her face. He felt his heart stop as he saw who it was. Kimberly looked down at him with her velvet brown eyes, still the same as the day she had left the gym. Young and pretty, she looked about sixteen, even after this entire time. Which made sense, his brain told him. She had died and if anything, this was her ghost. Ghosts didn't age.

He started at her and took her in, from her white skirt to her pale pink tank top, to her black and pink hair. The hair was what struck him as odd; she was a ghost, or maybe just his imagination, so why was her hair different? Not that it mattered.

He took a step forward, and she finally spoke, "You didn't help me," Her voice was hoarse, and her eyes filled with tears. "You let me die. You were my brother, my leader, and you let me die."

"I didn't..." He trailed off as she vanished in a flash of white, his own eyes swimming with tears. He hadn't let her die, had he? There was no way he could have saved her, was there? But it there hadn't been, why was her ghost haunting him?

He stumbled over to the Rock, collapsing onto it, head in his hands. He couldn't have saved her, there was nothing he could have done...Or maybe he could have. Maybe, if he'd been a better leader, he could have saved her.

Jason pulled the memory from his mind, remembering, trying to figure out what he could have done differently.

He entered the Juice Bar, having gotten Zordon's message. Both Kim and Tommy, the Green Ranger, were here. Kim was probably going to try and convert Tommy to good, and Jason couldn't help but hope it would work. He'd like to have Tommy as part of his team, and not only because he was a good martial artist. He was also looking to be a good friend; at least once the spell was broken.

Jason headed over to Ernie when he didn't spot his honorary little sister or newest friend. "Have you seen Kim or Tommy?"

Yeah, they just left," Ernie stated, putting up a glass. "Kim went over to talk to him, and then they left together." He shrugged, not noticing Jason's look of alarm.

He bolted towards the exit, stopping in the closest ally and morphing. Then he tilted his head and listened. He could hear fighting nearby, though it sounded like a lot more than two people. It didn't matter, though. He still raced towards the sound, hoping to get there in time.

He turned the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. Tommy had an un-morphed Kim held to his chest, and Jason knew from experience that it was a chock hold. The Green Ranger was morphed, though he didn't have on his helmet. The helmet was on the ground next to his foot, and Jason couldn't help but wonder why.

Of course, he didn't waste time asking. Instead, he demanded, "Let her go, Tommy."

"Why?" The other ranger taunted. "She wants to be here. Don't you, Pinkie?"

"Let. Me. Go." She growled up at him, and Jason was proud that his friend hadn't given up yet.

"Hmmm...How about no?" Tommy purred it out, and a shiver rippled down Jason's spine. This wasn't looking good. In fact, Jason had no idea what to do. "I don't take orders from anyone, much less two Power Puppies."

"You take orders from Rita." Jason pointed out, coming up with an idea. "But we can help you break that control. We can break the spell if you let us."

Tommy looked faintly amused, and tightened his hold on Kim when she tried to speak. It was a casual thing, a cruel thing, and Jason felt rage burning in his gut. "I don't need any help with that. In fact, it's already done. Rita's control over me is gone, and I don't plan to put myself at anyone else's mercy."

"Asshole." Kim finally got out, causing to two guys to look at her in shock. Kim had never cursed, she'd never let anyone do so around her. Always said it was a sign of a small vocabulary and a stupid person.

Tommy switched his gaze back to Jason after a second. "She has a backbone after all, even if she lacks a brain." His smile grew. "You know, she followed me of her own free will. I looked at her and played the pity card, asked her to help me. Stupid girl."

"Cut it out and let her go, Tommy." Jason snarled, trying to ignore what the Green Ranger was saying.

"I just looked at her and widened my eyes, told her I couldn't control it, that I needed help. Then I bolted from the Juice Bar, and low and behold, little Pinkie here is following me. Just like that." One hand loosened, and he snapped at the air, demonstrating.

It was a mistake on his part. "Now!" Jason shouted, and Kim dropped all her weight to the ground.

Tommy's hold broke, and Jason lunged, hitting him square in the face, only to be thrown back. His back hit the wall, and he felt a blade prick his neck. Someone pulled him up, and he found himself held at bay by Putties, food soldiers of all things. Tommy held the Sword of Darkness to his neck, eyes glowing green. Kim was behind the Green Ranger, eyes wide, whimpering as blood poured from her stomach.

"You shouldn't have done that," Tommy spoke through grated teeth. "I had to kill her, and now I'm gonna have to kill you." Then he shrugged, face changing. "It's not in the plans, but I'll deal with it."

Tommy drew the sword back and Jason braced himself, trying to push off the Putties, though his efforts were in vein. Kim's, though, were not. Despite the gut shot and the fact she wasn't morphed, she still hit Tommy's side hard enough throw him a few feet.

The Putties let go to go after Kim, who fell to the ground, her face pale. "KIM!" Jason shouted as he fought the three Putties, trying to get to her before Tommy did.

Then three things happened at once. Tommy lifted his sword as if he were going to throw it, Kim morphed and summoned her weapon, and the last Puttie broke into pieces. Turning, Jason saw Kim's arrow hit the sword dead on, and a flash of light engulfed the entire area around both Tommy and Kim, who was lying near him.

When the smoke cleared, nothing but the smell of burning flesh and a few small fires remained. Kim was gone, and Tommy seemed almost dead. Jason growled, feeling rage and the need for revenge over taking him. He started towards Tommy, only to see the guy vanish in a blur of green. Not even his helmet was left.

No, there was nothing he could have done different, he told himself as he forced the memory away. He'd come to terms with it long ago. For a while, he had agonized over whether he could have saved her, told himself he should never have sent her to look for Tommy alone. After a while, though, he had learned that life was life and nothing would bring Kim back, not even hunting and killing Tommy.

Jason raised his head from his hands to watch the sun, glad for once that his team wasn't around. Tears stained his face, and though the sun was drying them slowly, he knew his bloodshot eyes would be obvious to any member of his family, his team.

He lay back against the rock, loving the feeling of warmth is spread to him. Even as tired, depressed and confused as he was, this place made him feel just a little bit better helped him think. Help that he needed; he had a lot of things to think about.

The Kim Ghost had appeared twice, one in the Juice Bar and once here. Maybe it wasn't a Kim Ghost, but something his enemies were using to play with them. It didn't make sense, though. There had been one Black Puttie attack, and one sighting of the Prince of Evil. That had been it. What kind of enemies sent down soldiers, a Prince and a fake ghost then nothing else? If they were truly enemies, wouldn't they have sent monsters and made more effort to attack?

God, that was confusing. He pushed it away for now, vowing to bring it up with his team and Zhane and Karone. The last two proved another problem. They randomly showed up, promised upgrades and help. Then Karone was revealed to be the Prince of Evil's twin sister. Was she truly good, or were they both playing Zordon and the Power Rangers?

And Kat. Kat, his kitten, was another problem. She had vanished right after Rita had been defeated, and then showed back up with no warning. No that he wasn't happy; he loved her, and he knew she loved him. A complete accident that had come about when she was trying to kill him. Then Rita had been defeated, Kat had vanished, then reappeared, telling him she wasn't going to betray her new bosses. Bad people, she told him, but they treated her as well as they could.

He groaned, resisting the urge to slam his head back against the rock. Since when had life gotten so complicated?

Thursday, Nov. 22 1998

3.15 p.m

Lunar Palace

"Wonder if he's reliving the memories." Kimberly mused as she sat on the top branch of a tree just out of Jason's hearing range. "I mean, I pretty much shoved it at him..."

"Probably. You know Jason better than I do, but something tells me he'll be beat up because your 'ghost' is haunting him." Tommy said lightly, arm around her waist. He pressed a kiss to her hair, smelling the strawberry soap she used.

She snorted. "You know, I always thought Jason would be great one day, just like everyone else. But look at him, still a Power Ranger, still in Angel Grove, still mourning for little old Kimmie."

"Well, you were a very lovable girl, and the team is still in shambles from loosing you," Tommy pointed out, yawning. He hadn't slept in a while and was drawing the White Tiger power to keep himself awake. Thank god for the Morphing Grid and the extra powers it granted him.

She shrugged and leaned back, her head against his chest. "I wish we could kill him right now." She sniffed, "The red is offending me, ya know?"

"I'm with you there. In fact, every Power Puppy color irritates me." He agreed, running a hand over her shoulder and arm now.

She shot him a glare, "You know, both of us were originally supposed to be Power Rangers. I was one until you got me out. And if the White Power Coin hadn't been lost during Zordon's trip from Eltar, Jason would probably be the White Tiger and team leader."

"He could never harness the power of the White Tiger." Tommy said, his back stiffening. Then he relaxed, "But perhaps I should rephrase : I hate the current Power Rangers. Better?"

She gave him a smile that reminded him so much of the old Kim that he felt his heart melting. "Much." Then she turned around and watched the lake. "You know, its really rather pretty here. It'll be a shame to destroy it."

"Destroy it? I thought you wanted to rule this planet, not destroy it." He was slightly surprised. Kimberly had always said she wanted Earth and its people in the palm of her hand, not crumpled and dusted.

"Oh, I do. But the first thing we can do when we take over, after killing all the Power Rangers and their families, is obliterate Angel Grove." She sighed dreamily. "Then maybe we can build a summer retreat over it?"

"Sure, love. Sounds like fun," He said with a small smile. "I'll put it on the checklist."