Chapter 1: Three Years Later

Angel Grove High School

It was a day that would never be forgotten.

It had started innocently enough, with morning classes, the usual harassment from Bulk and Skull and looking forward to lunch. For five students, though, that all changed with a single sentence on the intercom.

"Billy Cranston, report to the school office immediately."

In the Chemistry class, Billy frowned, puzzled, then asked, "Mrs. Anderson, may I be excused?"

"Go ahead," she answered, then waited until the young man had left the classroom before continuing the lesson. However, within five minutes, the bell rang, ending the class and beginning lunch.

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Tommy, Adam and Tanya were walking from Mrs. Applebee's class towards the lunchroom, talking about the next class when they passed by the school's main office and Tommy saw something that caught his eye.

Mr. Caplan, the principal, and Billy were standing in the office, talking. The younger of the two put a hand to his mouth with a stricken expression on his face.

"Hey guys, something's up," he said to the other two, calling them back.

Adam looked into the office and saw the principal shake his head and then clap Billy on the shoulder, who nodded, then walked quickly to the door. The trio quickly got out of the way as he hurried off to the right, towards the direction of both the school entrance and the cafeteria.

"Now I know something's wrong," Adam remarked, frowning with concern.

"We can ask him at lunch," Tanya replied, and the others nodded.

However, when they got to the cafeteria and sat down to eat, the three of them looked around for him in the usual places.

Billy wasn't in any of them.

Rocky and Kat saw them looking around, puzzled, and hurried up to them.

"Hey, what's up?" Rocky asked.

"We were hoping Billy was here," Tanya replied, "We saw saw him talking to Mr. Caplan, and he was really upset."

"Yeah, then he ran this way," Tommy added.

"Well, he didn't come in here," Kat said, then added as she saw someone, "Speak of the devil..."

The other turned also, hoping that it was Billy, then frowned when they saw that not only was it not their friend, the person approaching was the principal himself.

"Mr. Caplan," Tommy asked, "Something we can do to help you?"

"Actually, yes," was the answer, spoken in a grim tone, "I know you saw what happened."

"Only a tiny bit, sir, but we didn't hear anything," he replied, "Why?"

"After that, Billy was seen leaving the school grounds, running."

"Oh, no," Adam said, turning pale.

"Hey, you didn't expel him or anything, did you?" Tanya asked.

"No, of course not! But I relayed something from his family, and it wasn't good. I'm more worried about his mental state."

"We'd better find him."

"That's exactly what I was going to ask you to do, Kat. This will probably take a while, so don't worry about the rest of your classes today. I'll talk to the teachers and explain the situation."

They nodded, thanked him, put their lunch plates away then quickly left the cafeteria. As soon as they found a deserted spot, Katherine asked, "Where would Billy go?"

"Too many places to split up and search for," Tommy replied, "We might have to ask Alpha for help on this."

Almost immediately, the communicators went off.

"The timing today's a bit creepy," Adam remarked.

"Yeah, tell me about it," Tommy replied and spoke into the communicator, "Alpha, Zordon, we were just about to call you. Billy's gone missing, and we gotta find him."

"Yes, I know," Zordon replied, "Billy teleported into the Power Chamber and locked himself into one of the nearby rooms."

"He what?" Tanya asked.

"That's not good. Something's got him really upset. Zordon, we're on our way. Any chance of breaking into the room?" Adam asked.

"No need. As soon as you arrive, we'll unlock that door."

"Alright, thanks," Tommy replied gratefully, and as they teleported out, he tried to remember if anything was said to him that would set their friend off like this.

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After they arrived in the Power Chamber, Tommy asked, "Okay, where's Billy?"

"He's in the laboratory, in the room on the lower right. Alpha, unlock the door."

"Right away, Zordon," Alpha replied, "Unlocking will finish in about one minute."

"Thanks," Rocky answered and they quickly walked towards the right, with the others behind them. When they got close enough, they heard something that surprised everyone.

That can't be. Crying?

At the same time, Tommy remembered something Trini had said about Billy, You'd be surprised. Bullying aside, there isn't much that would really upset him. The one thing I know that would, though, is his...

There was a soft beep that distracted his thoughts, and Alpha indicated with a hand that the door was unlocked. He nodded and walked in very quietly.

Inside the lab, the other Rangers were relieved that nothing was out of place or destroyed, but the relief was short-lived. Sitting nearby was Billy, his head on the table, sobbing.

It sounds almost like his soul's torn apart, Katherine thought.

"Hey, man," Adam asked, "What's wrong?"

There was no answer.

"Can't have been Bulk and Skull again?"

There was a small but quick shake of the head.

Tommy paled as he remembered the rest of Trini's words on the subject.

"No," he whispered then asked the rest in a quiet tone, "Don't tell me...it's Clairie, isn't it?"

Billy nodded.

"Oh, man, I was afraid of that," their leader said, feeling very sick all of a sudden.

"Clairie? Who's that? His girlfriend?" Rocky asked, which got him a light bop to the head from Katherine.

"No, silly," the Red Zeo Ranger retorted with a scowl.

Billy raised his head and turned around. His voice was soft and pained, and there were tears in his eyes as he explained, "Clara Marie Cranston, or Clairie. She's my little sister. She turned 10 on Sunday, two weeks ago."

"Yeah. She was struck mute 3 years ago thanks to that regional disease," Tommy added.

The Pink Ranger's eyes widened. Along with the tears, she saw pain and despair in Billy's eyes. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer as she asked, "What happened to her?"

"She went catatonic this morning."

"What?" Adam exclaimed.

"Father tried to get her out of bed for school this morning and noticed she wasn't moving," Billy continued, "He took her to the hospital immediately, but there was nothing the doctors could do. Our primary physician suggested that she be put into a hospice immediately, but Father said no."

"Why not?" Tommy asked.

"We've heard horror stories about how those places treat the elderly and terminal children. I know Clairie wouldn't want that. Besides, hospice care's very expensive, and I doubt insurance covers her illness." His voice broke and more tears fell down his face as he said, "In less than a week, my little sister's going to die!"

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Alpha gasped and hurried, as quietly as he could, back into the main room of the Power Chamber.

"Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi!" he said, tone quiet but panicked, "Zordon, it's exactly what we were afraid of! Billy's sister is-"

"I see. Is it Silent Death?"

"I'm afraid so."

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Katherine moved towards the genius and held him tightly as he wept.

Rocky asked, "Just what kind of disease is this?"

"Yeah, we're not originally from around here so I doubt we heard of it," Adam agreed.

Tommy sighed and answered, "I know about it because Kimberly and Trini told me about it. It's Cranston Syndrome."

Billy flinched visibly. "I'm sorry. I can't help but cringe when I hear or say those two words in the same breath. It was named after the survivor of the first outbreak: Clairie. It's also nicknamed Silent Death." His voice was muffled and torn.

"Rangers," Zordon spoke, "Billy, as soon as you are calm enough, I need to speak with all of you."

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It was closer to half an hour later before the Rangers walked from the lab into the main room of the Power Chamber. Everyone was silent, and the worried look on Billy's face and his eyes still being very red was out of place to Tommy's mind.

"Zordon," Billy said, "I'm sorry about barging in and locking the door like that."

"It's all right, Billy. I doubt anyone would blame you for having that reaction. There is something I want you to do, though."

"W-what is it?"

The next sentence surprised everyone, including Alpha.

"Tell me everything that you know about Cranston Syndrome."