Disclaimer: Still don't own Power Rangers.

A/N: Here's the next chapter! Again, super huge thanks to everyone who reviewed.

"...and then I passed it to Blake, and he caught it past the first down, but kept going anyway," Jim Scott was telling his older brother the next morning as the two of them were walking out the garage to Jason's old red truck. "He stiff armed this one guy, and two other guys grab him, and he drags them all the way into the end zone with him. The touchdown put us ahead and won the game. Man, you should have been there!"

"I know, I'm sorry. I can't believe I haven't made it to a single game this whole year," Jason said as he set his backpack in the bed of his truck. Jim went around the other side and put his books in the bed as well.

"You ought to come, man. Cheer us on. It's always a blast. Shoot, you know what? You need to join the team again," Jim said, once again trying to push his brother into picking football back up. The two of them had enjoyed playing football in the front yard since before they could remember, and Jim really missed Jason's presence on the team.

Jason just laughed, looking down the driveway while he leaned against the truck. "I was QB. That's your roll now."

"Well then be a linebacker! You'd be a great linebacker!" Jim said without a beat, smiling. "Come on! Give it a try!"

"There she is," Jason said as Kimberly walked into the driveway, and Jim rolled his eyes in defeat. For now.

"Hey, guys!" Kimberly called out. Kimberly lived right up the street from the Scotts, so she hitched a ride to school with Jason and Jim every day. The three of them just packed into the bench seat in Jason's truck. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but it worked. Kimberly leaned against the tailgate, dropping her backpack in the truck as well. "What are we talking about?"

"Getting this big idiot back into football," Jim commented as he threw another glance at Jason, who just waved his arm dismissively.

Kimberly smiled. When they played football back in the day, she always had fun pretending to be a cheerleader. She always wanted to cheer on both the Scott brothers in a real game one day, but understood Jason's decision. "Yea, good luck with that, Jimmy."

"Thanks, Kimmie," Jim responded with a grin at their little nicknames for each other. Kimberly just loved a good exchange of nicknames.

Jason just laughed. "Alright, guys," he said. "I guess we need to get ourselves to school, huh?"

"Sadly," Jim commented with a sigh.

"Wait, do you have my history notes still?" Kimberly asked Jason, and he blinked.

"Oh! Sorry, they're upstairs in my room. Let me run and grab them," he said, heading back towards the house.

"I'll tag along. I want to see everyone," Kimberly playfully said as she headed back towards the house with him.

"Hey, throw me the keys! I'm gonna warm up the truck!" Jim called after them. It was an usually cold California morning, and he wasn't very tolerant of cold weather. Jason just laughed and threw him the keys as they headed inside.

"There's my daughter!" Rob Scott practically yelled in excitement as he saw Kimberly walk in the door, and pulled her into a hug while Jason made his way past them to the stairs. "Where have you been?"

"Around, you know. It's been pretty tough lately," Kimberly said as Jason's mother was making her way over, with the little boys in tow.

"Well, you know we're always here for y-" Rob was interrupted by an explosion from the driveway that rocked the entire house. The five of them instantly ran outside to the sight of a burning heap of metal that had once been Jason's old truck.

"Jim!!!" Sarah instantly yelled, making a run for the the burning sight, but was stopped by her husband. Kimberly instantly grabbed Nick and Kevin and pulled the protesting the boys back into to house, knowing they didn't need to see this.

Jason practically kicked the front door open, running to meet his parents at the flaming heap. His mom was in tears by now, and his dad was obviously in shock, but trying to comfort her. Jason didn't feel shock, sorrow, or even that bitter sting from losing someone so close. He couldn't. The only emotion coursing through his veins was pure, uncontrollable rage.

David.

Zack hated first period even more than before, now. With Trini and Tommy gone, it reminded him of the entire situation. He shook his head as the bell rang, noticing Kimberly hadn't arrived. He scooted back to Tommy's usual seat so he could be next to Billy. He watched silently as David walked in the door, and made his way over to them. The two of them braced themselves. They were ready to tear him apart right here and now, but he would have to make that first strike. He hadn't yet, though, so they figured he valued his identity as much as they did. They turned their heads as David stopped behind them.

"Where's Kim?" David asked in a sinister tone, and then kept going and found a seat on the other side of the room. The bell rang as soon as he left, and Billy and Zack looked to each other.

"That's it!" Zack hissed, getting to his feet, but Billy reached over and pushed him back into his seat.

"Not here, Zack. Not here, not now," Billy told him, and Zack clenched his fists.

"I'm so tired of seeing him every day and not being able to do anything!" Zack whispered. The police weren't trying to arrest him again because they were too busy with the damage to the station and other things, so Trini's case had taken a back seat until they were back on their feet. So, until then, David had free reign, and there was no telling what he would do next time.

"We're going to get him, Zack. Don't worry," Billy whispered back, while looking around to make sure no one was listening in.

"What about Kim? And Jason? They ride here together," Zack whispered, and Billy nodded. They both looked up as Mrs. Applebee entered the room, and suddenly Billy started coughing uncontrollably.

"Billy? Dear, are you alright?" Mrs. Applebee asked from the front of the room, and Billy shook his head in between his coughs.

"I'll get him to the nurse!" Zack volunteered, helping Billy to his feet while picking up their backpacks. Mrs. Applebee just nodded as Zack helped Billy out the door.

As soon as they stepped out the door Zack handed Billy his backpack and the two of them made a mad sprint towards the parking lot, not caring what the administrators would think if they saw them.

"Sir, it appears there was some sort of car bomb set up to the ignition of the truck. As soon as your son attempted to turn on the truck, it ignited." the police investigator reported to Rob and Jason, who stood there wide eyed. "A very obvious murder attempt."

"Who would want to murder my boys?!" Rob yelled in disbelief, but the investigator just shook his head.

"That's what we intend to get to the bottom of, sir." he said, but Jason had heard enough. He turned and walked down to the street.

His driveway was filled with all kinds of emergency vehicles and servicemen, along with neighbors trying to figure out what was going on. It would only a matter of time before the news crews arrived, too. When he reached the curb he saw a teary eyed Kimberly standing there, who turned to look at him.

"I just don't understand," she simply said, and Jason pulled her into a close hug, feeling his own eyes watering up.

"It wasn't ever supposed to go this far. Ever," Jason said, not really knowing what to say right now. The rage had temporarily subsided and made room for a whole mix of other emotions.

"Zack," Kimberly said, looking up the street, and Jason turned to see a black Tahoe flying towards them way past the speed limit. As it got closer, Zack slammed on the breaks, stopping near them with a screech and cutting the ignition.

"Jason! Kim!" Zack yelled and he and Billy leaped from the truck, running up to them.

"What happened here!? Is everyone alright!?" Billy quickly asked, feeling something horrible had happened.

"Jim," Jason whispered as he let go of Kimberly. Zack and Billy stood there wide eyed. "It was a car bomb."

"He's out of control!" Zack yelled out, clenching his fists.

"Boys, what are you doing here?" Rob asked as he walked up to the four of them, and they turned their attention to Jason's father.

"We just...sort of had a feeling," Billy answered, unsure what to say.

Rob just smiled, and gave Zack a hug, and then Billy one. "You're good kids. I'm sorry you're all going through so much," he told them, and they smiled. Suddenly, Jason's communicator went off, and Billy let out a loud cough, covering the sound.

"Excuse me," Billy apologized.

"Dad, you mind if we go on a walk?" Jason asked.

"Yea. I think you could use one. Go ahead," Rob nodded, and headed back up the driveway. The four of them nodded and quickly moved down the street, looking for a good teleporation spot.

Zordon watched as the four Rangers appeared in the Command Center. The four of them turned up to him, waiting for him to begin speaking. Zordon was usually so collected, he had everything together. This was different, though. Today the worst had happened, something he had never imagined. In all honesty, he was a bit surprised they showed up.

"Jason..." Alpha said as they entered, immediately walking to the Red Ranger and hugging him.

"Jason," Zordon said, looking right the the former leader and now the temporary commander. "I am deeply sorry for the loss. This is my fault in so many ways. I pulled you into this war in the first place, just as I pulled David into it. This is a result of this war, and therefore it is my responsibility. While we discussed the fact that your own lives were in constant danger, I never intended to drag your families into this."

"We met David on our own. He went crazy on his own," Jason responded as he let go of Alpha, who went back to work. "You don't need the Green Ranger powers to make a car bomb."

"Red Ranger, I truly am sorry for your loss, and I wish there was something I could do," Zordon once again spoke, filled with regret.

"Leave David to me," Jason suddenly said, and everyone looked at him.

"What?" Billy asked, confused. Jason didn't really think he could handle David alone...did he?

"It's personal, now. More than it's ever been in the past," Jason explained with the hatred filling his voice. "I'm going to kill him."

"No," Zordon simply responded, causing Jason's eyes to widen.

"What!?" Jason yelled, about to lose control of himself.

"I know you hate to hear it, but you're still in shock, and therefore aren't thinking properly," Zordon explained. "David is a lethal threat. He has demonstrated that in the past. Our numbers are short, and I need the remaining three Rangers to be calm and collected. You must all work as a complete team in order to beat him."

"Zordon! He killed my brother!!!" Jason screamed at the floating head. Kimberly tried to put her hand on Jason's shoulder, but Jason just threw it off. "Every extra breath he takes is an insult to Jim's memory!"

"Calm yourself, Red Ranger. We will get David, but we must focus on the problem at hand," Zordon cautiously said. He hated doing this to Jason, but he couldn't just let him go and attack David. Not now, not after what he'd proven himself capable of.

"David IS the problem at hand!" Jason yelled back, but Zordon shook his head.

"The problem at hand is rebuilding our team. Recovering Billy's morpher and rescuing Trini take priority," Zordon explained, knowing the four of them knew obviously which of those two options took even more priority. "Jason. I understand what you are feeling, but you must remember the Ranger Code."

Jason flinched. He wasn't allowed to kill David. He couldn't avenge his brother. Not after all of this...

"We're going to get him, Jason. I promise," Zack tried to comfort his friend, but Jason didn't even hear him.

Jason just clenched his fists, his mind lost in emotion and his own morals. He couldn't take this any longer. He closed his eyes as Kimberly pulled him into yet another hug. David was going to pay. One way or another.

A/N: Stay tuned!