AN: So, after the horror of yesterday, I really hate to do this but chapters will come slower now. I'm going home today and internet access isn't readily available. Sorry again for yesterday's chaos.

The Return

Chapter 9

"Are you sure you're going to be all right?" Theo asked.

Merrick had signaled for him to pull over just outside of Reefside.

"Fine," the man growled, gently touching his shoulder. He'd pulled off his jacket and shirt once he'd found a reasonably comfortable seat on the grass and Theo was surprised to see that the bleeding had stopped. The scabs left behind were already healing into a large scar. "But we need to talk."

"About what?" Theo asked, sitting across from the man.

"About your hatred towards RJ. I need to know why."

"He's a monster."

"We are all monsters, if only given the chance. You should remember that."

Theo tensed but didn't say any more.

"What were you doing out alone on the highway? I can't believe Shayla and Taylor would let you run off alone while Zen-Aku was on the loose."

"Zen-Aku's been on the loose for years!"

"While Zen-Aku was evil and loose, then," Merrick amended. "Now answer my question."

"I left."

"Why?"

"Because they're wrong! Zen-Aku isn't worth saving and there is no reason for us to help Camille save Dai Shi from him."

Merrick looked the boy up and down, his gaze so intense that Theo started to fidget.

"When did the first rangers appear, as far as you know?"

"Nineteen ninety-three, in Angel Grove."

Merrick nodded. "And how many of them were there?"

"Five -- at first. Then the Green Ranger showed up."

"What made him different?"

"He -- he tried to destroy the others."

Merrick nodded. "And eventually they accepted him as part of their team. That one evil ranger went on to hold five different powers, four different colors. He's one of the most famous rangers in the galaxy. You know the Ninja Rangers, right?"

Now that Theo could see where this conversation was going he was becoming very uncomfortable. "Our school works with theirs sometimes."

"Only one ranger on that team ever escaped turning evil." Merrick let that hang for a moment before continuing. "Astronema, the Princess of Evil? She became the Pink Galaxy Ranger when Kendrix died. The Titanium Ranger from Mariner Bay was raised to hate his father and sister. He had to work past those emotions before he could help his team."

Theo took a deep, meditative breath. "All right, I get it. No matter how horrible a person is, they can still be redeemed."

"Yes. As a ranger you need to remember that you can never stop fighting for those around you, even your enemies."

"So I have to play nice with Camille?"

"Yes," Merrick said, holding back a laugh. He remembered Camille from the great war all those millennia ago. Playing nice with her would be a test of Theo's tolerance.

Theo sighed gruffly and nodded to the ribbon still clutched in Merrick's hand. "What is that thing anyway?"

"Gleipnir," Merrick said. "It was forged to hold Fenrir. Legend has it he's going to bring about the Norse equivalent of the apocalypse. The gods made a collar for him -- Lœðingr -- but he managed to break free of it. So they forged another -- Drómi -- that's the one he's wearing now."

"Lœðingr's the collar RJ had hidden in his chair and it weakened him, but what good will having Gleipnir do?"

"Lœðingr weakens, Gleipnir will allow us to hold him."

Theo shook his head. "But what good will that do? He'll still be evil and in three days you'll have to go back to Fenrir."

"First, don't tell anyone about my deal with that monster. I mean it, not a soul. And second, one thing at a time. Zen-Aku's strong, he'll come out of his, I know he will." He allowed himself a small smile which Theo tried his best to return.

Casey struggled to control his breathing. He really hated this. He didn't even know why he was trying to breathe at all, but he supposed it was force of habit. RJ stood over him, growling intensely. Casey pushed himself up on his elbows.

"What are you going to do -- eat me?"

RJ's expression faltered. "Why are you still here? You should have disappeared days ago."

Casey gave his master a long look. "I'm not going to let you die, not if I can help it."

RJ barked out a laugh. "What makes you think I'm going to die?" His humor died when he saw the forlorn look in Casey's tiger eyes.

"They can't let you hurt people, you know that."

"They are weak! Just like you."

Casey didn't rise to the bait, instead he asked, "What was your childhood like?"

"What?"

"Your human childhood. What was it like?"

RJ sniffed. "Lots of children grow up in the academy, either their spirit manifests early in life or their parents studied there, like my father."

"Does he know who you are?"

"He doesn't like it, but he can't really do anything about it, now can he?" After a beat of silence he asked, "What about your childhood, cub? Did your daddy go to the academy too?"

"My father died. He never went to the academy, neither of my parents did, but he fought back during the Countdown."

RJ rose quickly and returned to the real world, disturbed by what the boy had said. Casey slowly moved into a meditative stance. He needed to refocus. He was a spirit, his body was safe with Lily and he shouldn't be feeling this sort of pain. He needed to separate himself from those sorts of instincts. He winced as a shadow passed over him. He could hear voices calling him but he pushed them away. He wasn't ready to go, RJ needed him. He had to get through to the man because he'd be damned if he'd lose another father.