AN (for the PR fans): I know there was that whole OO episode with luck and how could it matter and blah, blah, blah. It's my fanfiction, I'll change things if I want (especially since I never understood how that episode was important in finding out who Mack was or Mack's eventual transformation, which were the only good reasons for putting it there (even if it was funny)).

Men and Monsters

Chapter 6

"Andrew!" Derby cried, rushing to hug one of her oldest friends.

"Derby, how have you been?"

"Terrible!" she said, slapping his shoulder lightly. "I haven't seen you since the Hastings' Christmas party."

Andrew rolled his eyes as Vance slapped him on the back. "You know I'd visit more, but the government keeps me busy."

Vance frowned. "You never should have gotten involved in all that Power Rangers nonsense. And you should have warned us. Not five minutes after that interview the kids gave my phone was ringing off the hook. People from all over the world wanted to know if I was in on the project. At least Collins had the good sense to keep the ranger business to himself."

Andrew shrugged. "Well, there are a few things I need to talk to you about concerning the rangers."

"Does this have anything to do with why Spencer keeps circling the driveway?" Derby asked, watching the town car slowly go around the Evans' massive front lawn.

"Yes," Andrew sighed. "I didn't want to shock you. And this is part of why I've stayed away so long. I wasn't entirely sure how to tell you, even after the rangers were retired."

"Tell us what?" Vance asked, worried now.

Andrew took a deep breath and shrugged. "About Mack."

"Oh no!" Derby cried. "Don't tell me he was hurt. I still can't believe you gave him those powers."

Andrew blinked. "What? What are you talking about?"

"About Mackenzie being a Power Ranger. I don't think I could stand letting Ryan do anything so dangerous."

"You know about Mack?" Andrew asked slowly.

"Of course," Vance said. "Though I'll admit we were a bit insulted to hear about it along with the rest of America. I remember when we watched the interview, Derby was saying how much he'd grown since the last time we saw him."

Andrew looked between his friends. Vance and Derby Evans had always been a bit … off, but they'd never been outright delusional. "When did you see Mack?" Andrew asked.

The Evans shared a frown and Derby said, "Well, I think the last time you were over was the kids' … thirteenth?" Vance nodded. "Yes, their thirteenth," Derby said. "I remember Mack cannonballed into the pool and soaked poor Sharpay. I can't believe you've kept him away so long at those boarding schools," she added with a teasing smirk.

Andrew considered this. Mack could not have been at the twins' thirteenth birthday because he distinctly remembered feeling guilty for spending that day working on Mack's dexterity instead of attending the party. Could his friends be under the influence of some evil force? But what evil would want to make his oldest friends think his son was real? It was more likely that the Crown had somehow affected his friends' memories to make Mack's adjustment to humanity easier. But why? And why would it only effect Vance and Derby? No one else had false memories of Mack.

"You know Mack?" he asked, just to be certain. "You've met him before?"

"Of course!" Vance said, laughing. "Now what was it you wanted to tell us about him?"

"I'm beginning to worry," Derby added.

Andrew decided to let it go. He would have to ask Sentinel Knight about this later. "He's been taking some time off of school to work with me and he's tired of people asking when he's going back," he lied quickly.

"Oh," Derby chastised. "Is that all? Go get him out of that car. I can't believe you thought we would be so inconsiderate."

Vance shrugged as Derby sashayed down the hall. "Don't mind her. Sharpay's been a tad out of sorts lately and it's getting to her."

Andrew nodded and headed back out the door. He took the steps two at a time and waited for Spencer to bring the car around. When Mack slowly opened the door Andrew smiled at him. "Apparently, the last time they saw you was Sharpay and Ryan's thirteenth birthday party."

"What?" Mack asked.

Spencer, hearing this, hurried around the side of the car to ask, "Are you certain, sir?"

"They think they've known you for years," Andrew said. "As best I can figure, the Crown altered their memories."

"But they've never been anywhere near the Crown," Spencer said.

"I'll ask Sentinel Knight about it later," Andrew said, clapping Mack on the shoulder. "But right now we'd better get in there before Derby decides she's not going to feed me."

"Wait," Mack said, hanging back, "who are Sharpay and Ryan?"

#

It was, without a doubt, the most stressful dinner of Andrew's life. He knew there had been nothing wrong with Mack's memory before he became human. Rose had accessed his files with no trouble shortly before the miracle. But what other explanation could there be for everyone having memories Mack didn't? Spencer was the one who came up with the answer and Andrew was sorry to say it was the only thing that made sense: Someone had magically altered things while Mack was still an android, and thus impervious to most magics. But what had changed? The only discrepancy was the twins.

These questions left Andrew wondering all through dinner. While he made small talk with Derby and Vance he wondered if they were the people he once knew and while Sharpay and Ryan tried to talk to a very close-mouthed Mack he wondered if the two were even real at all.

"So," Vance said, "you said you were working with the government?"

Andrew nodded, casting the twins yet another sidelong glance. "I've been asked to help create a new ranger program." It didn't escape Andrew's notice that the twins both seemed to tense at the word "ranger."

"Why didn't they ask Collins?" Derby asked.

Andrew sighed. "The powers Collins' man used were apparently from the distant future. He had nothing to do with their creation. He's exempt from the hassle."

"Lucky dog," Vance said.

"I still can't believe," Derby said to Mack, "that your father let you become a ranger. He was always so protective of you."

Mack shot his father a look before saying, "I didn't give him much choice. I morphed without his permission."

"But not again," Andrew said. "Those new Red powers we've been working on will go to a carefully chosen, government approved individual."

Mack shrugged. "Fine with me. Dying once was more than enough."

"Dying?" Derby demanded.

"It's all right, Derby," Andrew said, patting Mack's shoulder. "He's just fine now."

"But … how? What happened?"

Sharpay sighed loudly. "I'm sorry but … I don't think I want to hear about someone dying," she said uncomfortably.

"Oh, of course, pumpkin," Vance said. "Ryan?"

"Let's go," Ryan said, taking his sister's elbow. "It was nice seeing you again, Mr. Hartford, Mack. You have to get ready for Gabriella anyway," he said to his sister as they left.

"Gabriella?" Andrew asked when the door closed.

Derby smiled. "A girl from school. Sharpay's having her over tonight. And don't think that gets you off the hook. Tell us about this dying nonsense."

#

Taylor felt really bad about what she was doing, but not bad enough to actually stop. She knew it was a crime to sneak onto the Evans' property but she was fairly certain that, if caught, she could convince any authority figures that it was a childish prank and be let off with little more than a slap on the wrist. It was actually easier than she'd thought it would be. When one of the maids left, she snuck through the gate and in through a back door. She was lucky to hear Sharpay telling someone where to bring the snacks for the sleepover and simply trailed that someone until she found herself in the basement. A big screen TV was set up at the far end of the room, with two rows of theater seats before it. There was even a candy bar and popcorn maker, though neither was stocked. A curtain ran around the room to make it look more like a theater and Taylor hid behind that. It was hours before anyone came in and by then she had exchanged over two dozen texts with Chad debating her current level of insanity.

"So," Sharpay was saying, "I'll spend the night down here, watching werewolf movies."

Taylor pulled the curtain aside slightly so she could see. It figured that Sharpay would wear sparkly pink pajamas.

"Why did I think you'd be sensitive about this?" Ryan asked, heading behind the candy bar.

Gabriella shrugged. "And where should I be?"

"There's a bomb shelter over here," Ryan said. He bent down and Taylor guessed he opened a trap door. "This is the only way in or out so it should be secure."

Gabriella bit her lip and Taylor gaped, she'd never seen her friend so shook up. "Will it … will it hurt?"

Ryan and Sharpay exchanged a glance. "Did it hurt last time?" he asked.

"I wasn't thinking about it last time."

And then Sharpay did something that almost made Taylor give herself away she was so shocked. Sharpay put her arm around Gabriella's shoulders.

"You'll be fine," she said. "After all, you were strong enough to stand up to me."

Gabriella laughed at that. "I guess. Thank you, for taking care of me. Both of you," she added, smiling at Ryan.

Ryan shrugged uncomfortably and gestured to the open door.

"Night," Gabriella said before descending.

When the door was closed Ryan sighed. "So, do you want me to stay or …"

"I can handle it," Sharpay said flippantly.

A crash sounded from behind the candy bar and both looked casually over it.

"Sounds like she was just in time," Ryan said. "You need anything, you call me."

Sharpay rolled her eyes at his back. "Whatever, little brother."

"And no taunting!" he added, turning around. "That door doesn't open until dawn."

Sharpay nodded insultingly and took a seat.

Over the next half hour Taylor debated what to do. Crashes continued to come from the closed door and she swore she could even hear someone crying. What the hell was going on between Gabriella and the Evans? Finally, after a particularly animal-like cry, Taylor decided she had to move. With a glance at Sharpay to make sure the girl was thoroughly engrossed in the movie she crept under the curtain. She slunk across the back of the room, carefully keeping her head beneath the seat backs so that Sharpay wouldn't see her if she turned around. She crawled quickly around the candy bar and was shocked to see that there was only a small latch keeping the door locked. She bit her lip as she pulled it, thankful that the sound was drowned out by a sudden howl. Taylor rolled her eyes, she never would have guessed Sharpay liked horror movies.

Gently, she lifted up the door and looked down. There was a metal ladder built into one cement wall and across from it was a heavy door that had to be for the shelter. Something hit the door, making Taylor jump, and it swung open slightly. Biting her lip she bent down into the hole.

"Gabby?" she whispered. When there was no answer she reached down and put her hand on the first rung of the ladder so she could lean in further. "Gabriella!" she hissed.

The door opened slightly and she caught sight of two glowing red eyes before a hand at her collar pulled her back. The eyes came forward and with them a snarling jaw that snapped dangerously close to Taylor's face.

"Stop!" Sharpay cried, her free hand coming around Taylor to touch the creature's nose. The thing went still as stone and Sharpay pulled Taylor behind her. "Back," Sharpay ordered, her voice cold but firm. She pushed the creature back into the hole. When it was fully in she jumped up and slammed the door into place.

Taylor looked at the door for several seconds before looking up at Sharpay and saying, "That thing was wearing Gabriella's necklace."

Sharpay sighed and glanced at the TV, which showed a young man transforming into a werewolf. Taylor followed her gaze and let out a shuddering breath.

"I think," Sharpay said, "that we should deal with this in the morning."

Taylor turned back to her sharply only to find Sharpay's finger on her forehead. "Sleep," she said and Taylor didn't even remember hitting the floor.

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