Chapter Four: A World Without

Angel Grove – 12 years ago

Adam ran after the football, intent on catching it. When he had, he felt as though someone was calling his name, but no one was around. Shrugging it off, he headed back to the others.

As time continued, the others noticed something going on with Adam that concerned them greatly. He was the only one of them who was unhappy being alone.

"Hey, what's up? Is anything wrong, you seem kind of down lately" Rocky asked as he and Adam rested in Ernie's Juice Bar after a workout while Tommy watched Kim practice her routine.

"It's nothing. It's just, lately I feel like I've been hearing someone's voice calling out to me. Even when I try to fall asleep" Adam replied as he tried to explain what he's been hearing lately to his best friend.

"Maybe your just lonely man, I mean, the last couple times you went out with someone it didn't exactly work out" Rocky suggested, trying to lift Adam's spirits.

"That's the problem though, there's no one here that peaks even the slightest bit of interest to me" he retorted, it was like the person he wanted to be with was nowhere around.

"Man, I dunno what to tell you. Just try to find someone even remotely interesting to you" Rocky replied, not exactly sure how he was going to help Adam with this problem.

'Beep beep beepbeep beep beep' their communicators went and they followed Tommy in behind the lockers.

"Go ahead Alpha" Tommy said as they stood waiting.

"Rangers, Zordon needs you at the Command Center, its urgent" Alpha told them and the six nodded to each other.

"We're on our way Alpha" he replied and the six teleported away while all the while someone was screaming at them to listen.

ADAM! HELP ME!

Command Center…

"Rangers, you must hurry the entire universe is in danger of being destroyed" Zordon told them as they teleported in and listened to the wise sage.

"What do you mean Zordon, how can something infinite be in danger of being destroyed?" Billy asked, he'd read enough science books to know that the universe would always exist – well, it would for the next couple hundred-thousand years.

"Alpha and I have discovered that something is no longer right within our time stream. It seems that a vital and important person no longer exists and this is creating havoc on the universe. This person is the balancing point for all things living, and it appears that someone or something has cause the timeline to go backwards in order for the person of balance to no longer exist" Zordon began to explain; it was difficult to explain something that may not make sense to humans.

"Without this person, the universe's balance will become destabilized and will eventual collapse upon itself. If this happens, not only Earth, but every planet will be doomed" Alpha panicked as he ran around aimlessly.

"Billy, I need your help to see if there is some way to correct was has been done. It was likely caused by something very powerful and pinpointing their location is a vital thing" Zordon continued and the teen nodded, this was his area of expertise and he would help any way he could.

GUYS, COME ON! I'M STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, WHY CAN'T YOU SEE ME!

Adam's head whipped around as he thought he heard something yet again. This did not go unnoticed by Zordon, or the others.

"Adam? What is it?" Kim asked as Adam finally stopped looking around the room. He wasn't thinking straight; obviously no one could get inside the Command Center without the morphing power.

"Nothing, I must have imagined it" he replied, he really was losing it.

"I believe otherwise Adam. For the past couple of weeks I've felt something present on and off either here or in Angel Grove where the rest of you are. I have some idea that this presence may be trying to tell us something, which is one of the reasons I need Billy's help" Zordon retorted as he told them his theory.

Why, why can't you see me? I'm your friend. Damn it Adam, I'm your fiancée for crying out loud!

This time, it wasn't only Adam who felt the air move around them, the others did as well. Billy started typing away on the control panels before the others even started to question what in the world was going on.

Meanwhile…

"Where the hell did she go?" Adam cried. He'd heard Keri scream and ran inside the house. He watched as she faded away, leaving behind a strange woman. "Who the hell are you and what did you do to my fiancée?"

"Adam Park. Former Black and Green Ranger, and Kahara's little distraction," Illyana sneered, "Pitty you won't see her again."

The others came rushing into the house, having heard Adam yelling. They stopped short after seeing the stranger glaring Adam down. He was shaking in rage and they couldn't find Keri anywhere.

"What did you do?" Adam asked again. He was seething. The love of his life had been taken away from him yet again and this time he certainly wasn't about to let another six years slip away from them.

Illyana paused. She was having fun toying with Kahara's lover that she really didn't want to stop, but she knew she had to. There were other things she had to insure. "I sent her away, and she's never coming back." With that, she vanished.

Shocked, Adam sunk to his knees, his eyes wet with tears as the others just stared in disbelief. Why couldn't fate just let them be?

Command Center, AU…

Billy finished keying in the data, finally through with the initial input. "We're all set," he said.

"Initiate the system," Zordon ordered.

Billy pushed a large red button, causing a bright flash of light to fill the room. Once it died, they could finally see her standing next to Adam.

"This cockamamie plan better have worked," she said, "I'm tired of trying to be heard by you lot." Her arms were crossed over her chest, her long brown hair tumbling down her back.

They all just stared at her for a moment as they took it all in. The person, who Adam was hearing phantom whispers from, was real. She was older than them, about early to mid twenties.

"Rangers, I do believe we've found the discrepancy within our timeline," Zordon broke the deafening silence that had fallen.

"Zordon, they can see me right?" she asked. He nodded and she turned to the others, waiting for them to speak.

"So, uh, what brings you here?" Rocky asked lamely. He couldn't help it, this woman was just stunning.

"Unfortunately, nothing good. I was betrayed and sent here to this reality, which I have to say, is twelve years behind my own."

"Zordon, why is she so important to begin with?" Tommy asked.

Keri blinked in surprise. She'd arrived in this reality right around the time she herself had learned of her destiny. "They don't know?"

"Rangers, I'd like to introduce you to the most powerful person alive," Zordon replied to Tommy. He then turned to Keri, "No, in this reality you are not here."

"My title is Princess Kahara of Phados, Future Queen of the Universe," she told them, watching their eyes widen before adding, "Here on Earth I'm known as Keri Lee, Jason Lee-Scott's cousin."

Tommy froze. He knew of Jason's cousin but he also knew that she was departed from this world. He'd have to contact his friend about his cousin who was alive in another time.

"Rangers, as you may not know, the Keri from this reality no longer exists. This is the reason why you do not know her," Zordon explained.

"I understand now why they don't already know of me. About this time in my own reality, we'd already met and you'd learned of who and what I was. You see, I…"

"That's enough, Keri," Zordon interrupted, "If you tell them more than they should know then things may not develop in this reality as they should."

Keri nodded in understanding. She knew the effects of time traversal thanks to the Time Force Rangers. She also knew that they had done their best to minimize the effects, so it wasn't a big deal. "I need help getting back to my own time. If I could have, I would have transported myself back, but I have a feeling someone is preventing me from returning that way."

"Billy and I will see what we can come up with. But for now, I'm afraid you're stuck here," Alpha said.

"I suppose I quite literally am," she replied as she glanced up at Zordon. He nodded grimly, he didn't want to have to confine her to the Command Center, but if she wandered around then the time stream could likely become changed.

Before anyone else could say anything, the alarm sounded and they all turned to the Viewing Globe. "Rangers, it appears Zedd and Rita are aware of Keri's presence. It is imperative nothing happens to her."

"They should know why at least," Keri stated. She wasn't about to have people try and protect her without due cause.

"Yes, but only what is absolutely relative."

"What is it?" Aisha asked.

"The reason I am the most powerful person alive and the reason those two doorknobs are after me," she replied. "Centuries ago I fought with a powerful opponent and sealed him away. However, my life was shortly diminished and I was constantly reborn until I was born as I am now. Each life I live is independent of the others, yet one thing remained constant. I harbored within me the source of the Power of the Universe; the Ninjetti Crystal."

"You mean to say that you've lived for centuries and you created the Ninjetti Powers?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes. As I said, each life I was reborn into was independent of the ones before. It wasn't until now that I was even awoken with my century-old self since it wasn't necessary. And yes, I had created the Ninjetti Powers before all this started. They were the first rangers and that is why their power is as great as it is, and also why Dulcea is quite leery to let them go. That aside, the Crystal is important to sustaining the life of everything in the Universe and if it falls into enemy hands then everything will be destroyed," she said. "I thought it only right you know this as I will not have people risking their lives without unjust cause."

"Thank you," Tommy replied. Although he did not know this woman well, he was glad she was forthcoming with the information they needed.

"Just kick their asses."

"Right. Alright guys, it's Morphin' Time!"

"The Falcon!"

"The Frog!"

"The Ape!"

"The Crane!"

"The Wolf!"

"The Bear!"

With a flash of light they were gone, and Keri was left alone in the Command Center with her mentor and friend. Sadly, she glanced down at her left hand. How she wanted to be home with her beloved. Seeing her love as he was twelve years before and knowing they would never meet in this life, broke her heart.

Reality…

"This is bad. I mean, who can we even contact about this?" Kim asked. Tommy's team was no longer the active ranger team and they hadn't heard about another.

"It may be that the new ranger team is in a different time, like Time Force was," Billy stated.

"We need to contact them again, see if they can help us," Tommy said. He glanced over at Adam who seemed deep in thought, likely at a loss as to what to do. He supposed that he had some comfort in knowing that she hadn't left of her own accord this time.

"Wes left Keri with a contact number just in case. It should be on the fridge or something," Adam replied. Standing, he walked into the kitchen to look for the number. When he found it, he passed it to Jason; he was in no proper state of mind to have this conversation with anyone. All he wanted was his fiancée.

AU…Command Center

Keri waited as the Rangers teleported back into the Command Center. She didn't have to ask them if they had been victorious in destroying the creature Rita and Zedd had sent down to track her whereabouts. She only hoped the Rita in this dimension wouldn't attempt to go through the lengths the Rita in her dimension had. The witch had turned her first few days in Angel Grove into a walking nightmare – literally.

"Okay so I've discerned that the problem is that we need to get you back into your own dimension so everything can return to normal," Billy stated as he walked over to the control panels and started punching away at buttons.

"Keri, can you not teleport yourself back there? I mean, you have this infinite power right?" Kim asked.

Keri shook her head. "No, because I did not travel here by my own mean I would need an alternate way to return back, which is why I need Billy's help. If he can help me traverse back to my own dimension, even in a corporeal way, I can alert the others in my time as to what's going on and they can also help in getting me back there."

"Keri, as I am an interdimensional being I am already aware as to the state the others are in. They will not be able to help you in the way that their doubles here can," Zordon commented, trying to be discrete in his words.

"I am aware of that fact, Zordon, however there are others who they can locate that do have the capabilities I require. In fact, I do believe my guardians have been reincarnated in my time. If I can help them to find those warriors then I stand a chance at not only returning to my time, but also defeating those that have sought to betray me."

The six teens glanced at her in confusion, wondering what exactly she and Zordon were referring to but knowing that it was imperative they not learn anymore than they needed to.

She turned to them, a sad smile on her face. "I'm sorry that I can't tell you what it is that's happening, but it is more for your safety than anything else."

"We understand; the effects of dimensional time travel are said to wreak havoc on things that should be left alone otherwise," Billy replied.

"We'll help you get home, Keri, don't worry; and back to whoever it is that's waiting for you," Adam said, motioning to the gem he's spotted on her finger.

She smiled at him, thinking to herself how odd it was that Adam and his double were so similar in their nature towards her it was almost as though she hadn't been ripped away from him at all. Glancing at her ring, she vowed right then and there to destroy those that had betrayed her trust and put her love in distress. She didn't have to be there to know what he was going through, she herself felt the pain and instantly regretted every leaving him in the first place.