A/N: Sorry it took me so long to get this out. I've had a nasty bit of a virus. I've had this mostly written, I just had to add an end for the chapter. Also, something gets explained, and some questions are raised. Yes, this is a partial tie in to the Brotherly Love series, mostly because there are some good ideas in the other series.

Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers, if you recognize it, it's Disney/whomever's, if you don't, I wrote it...


The Rangers were still talking when Justin came back into the room, phone in one hand, a laptop in the other. "All right," he said, eyes passing over each of them. "I have a problem I need to take care of. I have to leave. Christian is coming with me; Storm Blaster's going to stay to provide an extra ride. Tommy is begging you guys to keep Conner down here, supposedly to help if there's an emergency, but I distinctly heard Kira say, 'if you break one more lamp, I'm going to disembowel you.' So he's probably fighting with Ethan or Trent. I recommend letting one of the Dino Thunders come down, because until I can get back, they're the only ones who can quickly access an off-planet comm. system." He offered the laptop to Cam, "This has more information on the Star Master, including a lot of legends, myths and speculations. Those are properly marked. Password is Armor Up, Silver Atlantis. If you hit any other passwords, don't try to break them, some of its work related and some of its life related, and all of it is personal. I'll be back soon, I'm sure."

"What's going on?" Carter asked, stunned.

"I can't say," Justin replied, "it's worth more than my life to tell you. I have to go. Chris, you're driving." Justin practically ran out of the house, with the robot right behind him.

"Well," Cam said, opening the laptop, "let's see what we've got."

Shane's watch beeped, "Aw man," he said, "I've got class."

Dustin nodded, "We both do," he stood up, eyes going to Cam and Hunter. Cam raised his hands, "It's my day off. I'm good for staying."

Hunter grinned, "I'm on a long vacation. I'm here until this is over."

Shane and Dustin stood up, "We'll see you guys in a few hours," Shane said, "unless we can get our classes covered before then. Call us if it's an emergency." He lifted his hand to show them the powerless morpher.

"We will," Cam said, "have fun at class." The slightly malicious look on his face made Shane grin.

"Conner and Eric had to go home," Shane said, "their grandmother passed away. No explosions today." He left, followed by Dustin.

"So," Wes said, leaning slightly forward, "inquiring minds want to know."

"Conner, last week, somehow managed to make air explode. We're not exactly sure what he did, but Shane was overheard saying, 'he was the Red Ranger?'" Cam explained as he looked at the laptop. Deftly he put in the password, "Now, let's see what we've got."

Hunter was leaning over to look when his phone rang. He answered it quickly, "Hunter Bradley speaking." Hunter listened, and his entire face lit up, "Derrick, hey, what's up?" Hunter paused, nodding and making interested noises. "Look, I can't go. I've got a work related emergency. I know, I used that excuse last week, but this one is so important, I can't leave." Hunter paused again. "Yes," his tone was sarcastic as his eyes fastened on Cam's face. "I'm here with my ex and we're about to have wild passionate sex, that's it. That's exactly it." He jumped and regarded the phone, "He hung up on me! How rude."

"Wild, passionate sex," Cam repeated.

"He's paranoid," Hunter replied, "he doesn't like that I have work related emergencies when you're around. He thinks we're sleeping together."

"We only went on one date."

"And there was that fire."

"The ferret."

"The money from Mr. Hartford," Hunter finished, "Ah, good times."

"You two dated?" Chad said.

Hunter and Cam sighed, "We went on one date," Hunter replied. "It was a complete and utter disaster. This rich business man and his son were there and the kid had a ferret in his backpack, which escaped, and caused a rather large fire. Since I rescued the kid's ferret, his dad, Andrew Hartford, covered our meal at the steak house, and gave us money for the place we wound up going to eat. We agreed that us together is not our future."

Cam glanced up from his laptop, "I'm bisexual, for the record. Hunter's the one who gay."

"Says the man who had to check out my ass before he could dismiss it," Hunter muttered.

Cam sighed, and then straightened up, "I got something here, 'the Night Stars'. Isn't that what Jus, uh, Christian said Blake said we should find."

"Yes," Hunter said.

Cam typed at the machine for a few moments, and then stopped, his eyes focused on the screen. "All right, it says that there are two Powers linked to the Star Master. The Day Stars are evil, and those are what Tori and the others are seeking. At least, that's what Shane told me." There were nods, "What we want are the Night Stars. They are the antithesis of the Day Stars in power. There's a catch, though. Whoever takes the Power, well, they'll be a team, and they'll have to leave their old teams behind, for good. The Power can be passed, but it's not an easy proposition if passed before it's time."

"So we're talking about a new team, then?" Merric asked.

"No," Cam shook his head as he kept reading, "The Night Stars can only be used by Rangers, but because of their, uh, properties, it's hard to get a team accepted. It's why the Star Children, uh, Tori and the others, are from different teams."

"So we have to build a team out of ourselves," Carter asked, looking around the room.

"Basically, yes," Cam said. "It's an alliance, though, rather than a team. I believe that, like the Star Children, we'll have one or two from each team."

"Well then, I am not part of this," Zen Aku said quietly. "I have never been a ranger."

"Yes, and I'd like to know just why you are here," Chad said, "I was under the impression that you were evil?"

Zen Aku and Merric exchanged a glance, "Well," Merric said, "he used to be. Zen Aku is reformed."

"Reformed?" Kelsey said.

"Yes," Zen Aku said, "I am not, nor am I ever likely to be, truly considered a creature of the Light, but I no longer serve the Dark. Merric and I are linked, because he is the one who freed me from my own curse. As I am a Shadow creature, I have had an evolution of Power, from the Dark Power of a Duke Org into, well, that of a Bard. Bards work Magic through Music and can be Dark, Light or Shadow. We chose who we work for, or with. In the days of Animaria, I would have formally declared Merric my Liege, to show that I may be born of Dark and live in Shadow; I will no longer fight against the Light. I am here because I do have knowledge of the Dark, and I have done some work with Andros since being freed."

"You worked with Andros?" Cam asked.

"We both did," Merric said. "We don't do much off planet, but we have proven useful, especially since nobody truly understands what side Zen Aku is. As a Shadow, he can play both sides off the other, but since we have done a Ceremony of Service before Princess Shayla, we can trust Zen Aku."

"So this isn't about you two sharing a bed?" Joel asked cruelly.

There were gasps amongst the Wild Force Rangers, and then Cole body slammed Joel into the back of his chair, knocking the armchair back as his fist connected with Joel's face a few times.