Author's Note: Thank you for those of you that have been patient. All of the pieces are coming together. For those of you who are wondering what's going to happen with Trini, rest assured, those questions will be answered in this episode. Thank you for your time, and please review.

Chapter Four

"Toil and Compassion"

Zack stampeded around the street corner, pumping the post-dawn air in and out of his lungs as if he was a steam engine back to Kimberly's house. Wincing as another puddle of stinging sweat dripped into his eyes, he slapped his eyelids, trying to bat the sweat away. Unfortunately, his already saline saturated hands slapped more salt into his eyes. Zack hissed in annoyance and swore amongst his thoughts, regretting this by wasting a chance to breathe in.

Zack glanced ahead. He had four city blocks to go before reaching Kimberly's home. You have got to be kidding me! Zack groaned. How did I end up this far from her house? And why the hell am I sprinting!? The ten minute old cramp stabbed deeper into his left side, ripping his skin apart. His calves and quads ached in protest under the excursion. Even his abdominals, lats, back, upper pecs, and shoulders chorused in muscle strain while fatigue leeched at his stamina.

Yet despite these physical discomforts, his body charged through them, maintaining its momentum. While the aching had not exacerbated to throbbing, the weed of anxiety grew within Zack as its roots clutched his gut. Zack felt and knew in his heart and experience that some muscle was on the verge of tearing.

Still, he kept sprinting, just as he had reluctantly for the past forty minutes; not driven by will… almost as if controlled. No, he thought as epiphany strummed in his mind, more like… motivated. Adrenaline alone was not driving him. Primal perseverance was.

This is insane! Zack had thought when his mind and caught up with his body. How can I be going this fast? All I had was a banana and water before I left. My body should've given out by now!

Suddenly, the thought of external mind control flashed in his mind but he tossed that idea into the garbage immediately.

Rita and Zedd would have just sent down putties or a monster if they wanted to kill me, he reminded himself. It's gotta be something else. But what?

Just then, a dark shadow flashed in front of his vision, obscuring most of it. Light headedness engulfed him. Shaking his head, he blinked his eyes twice and then closed them for a few seconds without stopping. Upon opening them, his vision cleared almost at once, only to reveal he was about to collide with a tree. Leaping back onto the sidewalk, he spat out a sigh of relief, unable to utter an articulate exclamation.

Man, I have got to slow down! he declared, his body disobeying by automatically resuming at sprint pace.

Unfortunately, it was too late (and he knew it) for if he suddenly stopped—or even slowed down—he would not be able to continue: walk or even stand. Plus, he figured the concrete sidewalk or asphalt road was not the place to have a tumbling fall. Only a void inhabited his stomach now. Therefore he had to keep going—battling his fatigue to get to Kimberly's house.

Two blocks. One block. Just… keep… going… he chanted, steadying his footwork so that he did not trip. Three houses to go…two… here! And he leapt onto the yard, galloping toward the front door, trying to slow down. But the distance was too short. Damn these long feet! he screamed in his head reaching out with his hand out for the door handle. (His thighs felt as if they were being ripped out of his hips.) At the last minute before impact, his fingers clasped around the door handle. Without pausing, he twisted it, slamming into the door at full force and then collapsing through the doorway onto the foyer floor.

For a brief moment, he thought he was dead until he heard his heart pounding against the floor. He then uttered a groan at still being conscious. The thought of lifting himself did not materialize in his mind. His entire body felt like it was cement pudding and Zack did not challenge this interpretation. He kept his eyes shut.

"Zack?" called out Kimberly's voice.

Zack pulled his head up, craning his neck toward the hallway beside the stairway. He groaned in response.

Kimberly had dashed into the foyer from the kitchen, still in her bed robe and pajamas, her face wide with anxiety and panic. Immediately, she crouched down to his side, sweeping his body for wounds with her hands. "Are you alright?" she demanded, panic shaking her voice.

Been better, he thought. Instead he replied with, "Hmm-mm."

"Zack, open your eyes!" she demanded, gripping his face.

"Yeah, yeah," Zack barely whispered, peering through slit-like eyelids. "I'm good. Just worn out! That was..."

Knotting her face, Kimberly jabbed his shoulder with her fist.

"Ow!" Zack recoiled, rolling onto his back. "Kim!"

"You scared me!"

"You're not the only one," he replied. "I was scaring myself."

She sighed. "What were you doing?" she asked in a lighter tone, kneeling by his side.

"Jogging, or at least started to. I ended up sprinting through most of the run."

"And you aren't dead now!?" she exclaimed. "You've been gone for almost an hour!"

Trying to laugh, Zack spat out a mouthful of air. "I guess it takes more than that to beat the Zack-Man!" he half joked, boosting a smile. He then coughed.

Kimberly drifted her head from side to side. "Zack, you shouldn't joke like that," she said. "We don't know when or how Jason will attack us next." She rose, shutting the door. "It's best if we don't provoke him."

Zack blinked and then craned his eyes at her.

Kimberly remained rooted to the spot, staring off in the distance. Her face sagged, betraying a deeper worry.

"What do you mean?" Zack beseeched, trying to lift himself on his elbows, but his arms refused to move.

Kimberly only sighed in response, her eyes still locked in a far off gaze.

Zack squinted at her, studying her. Come on, Kim, I thought you were over this, he thought. Kimberly had more than once hidden her worries from her friends because she was not sure how to cope with them. But this time she was actually distracted from the moment, from even Zack.

"Kim?" he called breathily. She didn't hear him. "Hey," Zack panted, tapping her ankle with his toes.

She jerked back, blinking her eyes and darting her gaze right and left before resting them on him.

"Can you help me up?" Zack asked.

"Yeah." Nodding with an uncertain face, she knelt down and pulled him up.

"Thanks," Zack said, pushing as best he could with his other hand. Once up, he added, "Are Trini and Sean up yet?" Tommy, Billy, Rocky, and Adam had departed before Zack had left to prepare for their workdays. Though hesitant to separate, Tommy reminded them that they had their communicators and the ability to morph once more if something happened. Billy interjected afterward that they could not let Trini, Zack, and Sean's circumstances dictate their lives. It was for that reason that Zack had decided to jog this morning—to get rid of his pent-up frustration.

"Sean was still asleep in the living room last I check," she replied. "And I haven't seen Trini yet."

"Oh," Zack sighed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. His heart sank at her words about Trini. "I guess she's not ready then."

"Come on; let's get you something to eat," she said, leading the way to the kitchen.

"Need a hand?" Sean asked from just behind the hallways entrance. He was standing tall and erect, the weariness from yesterday washed from his skin.

Zack and Kimberly turned their heads. Their mouths fell open.

"I thought you'd be as tired as me," Zack said, uttering a half chuckle.

"My energy is your energy," Sean said, striding to behind Zack. "Come on," he urged them, placing a steady hand on Zack's back. Bewilderment swimming within them, Zack and Kimberly walked into the kitchen (Zack more or less wobbling), crossing to the table.

"Easy, Zack," Kimberly said as she and Sean guided Zack into a chair. Zack groaned as his thighs and calves stretched.

Sean looked at Kimberly "Let's make some breakfast before I resume answering questions," he said. "None of us has had a good meal since yesterday."

"Okay?" Kimberly agreed, still perplexed. She went over to the cupboard, grabbed a glass, and then filled it with water. "Here you are, Zack. Eggs and potatoes okay?"

"Sure." Normally, he would have disagreed, but at this time, he did not care.

"Kimberly, do you mind if I cook something also?" Sean offered.

She shrugged. "Uhh… sure."

"Thanks," Sean said, heading to the refrigerator.

Within eight minutes, fresh coffee was brewing, and the kitchen was filled with the aroma of eggs and potatoes, strawberry pancakes, and steaming maple syrup. Sean, who had whipped together the pancake mix from scratch, served a short stack to Zack and Kimberly before there was enough for him. "Go ahead and eat up, Zack," he said encouragingly, beaming with a smile.

Cutting a slice with his fork and knife, he shoved it into his mouth. Immediately, his face exploded with joy. "Sean, these are excellent!" he exclaimed.

"Thank you," Sean responded.

"Kim, you have got to try these!" Zack continued.

"I will in a sec," she called back. "Just save some for us."

"I was just trying them," Zack amended, putting down his silverware.

"Don't worry, Kimberly, I have enough batter for all of us," Sean announced.

"Good," she said, shifting the sizzling eggs and potatoes around the pan with a wooden spoon, "Because these eggs are done!"she announced. Grabbing a serving bowl from the adjacent cupboard, she scooped the eggs and potatoes into it, and carried it to the table.

Sean joined them with a stack of pancakes for himself.

Kimberly dashed to the coffee pot and poured some into two mugs. "Sean, would you like some coffee?"

"I would prefer tea if you have any, please," Sean replied.

"I just so happen to have some jasmine tea," she said, grabbing another mug.

"Perfect," Sean replied, flipping his pancakes over.

Filling it with some water, she stuck it in the microwave. After setting the time, she grabbed the tea box and poured some tea leaves into another mug.

Zack drew in the rooms' aromas into his lungs. "This smells delicious!" Zack exclaimed.

"Why, thank you!" Kimberly chirped, retrieving the now boiling water, and pouring it into the second mug.

"Sean, do you want milk or sugar in your tea?" she called over her shoulder.

"Just milk please."

"Coming up."

Kimberly dashed over to the refrigerator, got out the milk and poured some into the tea. Afterwards, she placed the milk back in the fridge. Grasping the mug's handle, she strolled over to the table, grinning in happiness.

"Thank you," Sean said, as Kimberly placed the tea in front of him.

"Thank you for helping," Kimberly replied, sitting and surveying the breakfast palette. A platter of fresh cantaloupe slices lay amongst the main dishes. "Oh, this looks so good! Please help yourself and dig in."

With gusto, they did. Sean perked up even more, gladness and satisfaction satiating his being as the food passed along his tongue into the rest of his body. The pizza last night had been appreciative but not refueling enough. Therefore, he indulged.

"Sean, these pancakes are amazing!" Kimberly exclaimed a few seconds later. "If you want to cook here again, you are more than welcome. I'm sure Jake would love your cooking."

"Thank you; I may look into that," Sean said.

"I just thought of something. Do you even have a job here—on Earth?" Kimberly asked.

At this question, Zack perked his head up. Taking his time with his meal, he glanced over at Sean, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't actually," Sean replied.

Kimberly blinked twice, flashing glass eyes of surprise. "What?" she gasped. "I would've thought you would."

"Sadly, no. I've been jobless for the past week."

"Then, what are you doing for money?"

Sean wiped a pancake & syrup smudge from the corner of his mouth with his napkin. "Oh, I've got enough to last me for a few months. I should be fine until then."

"But what do you do?" Zack asked.

Sean looked at him. "Forgive me. I'm an artist—painter primarily," he responded.

"A painter?" Kimberly mussed. "That's an interesting career choice. You know, my step-dad said to me once that a person has to follow his or her passion or there is no joy in that person's life."

"Your step-father is a wise man to say that," Sean replied. "Indeed, that is one of the reasons that I paint."

Munching on a mouthful of Kimberly's eggs and potatoes, Zack leaned in closer.

"My life is that of a power ranger," Sean elaborated. "But when I'm able to escape from my duty, I like to indulge in the more beautiful aspects of life. To remind me of why—that there is more to existence than just fulfilling my role in the Grand Design."

Zack nodded in agreement. "I can understand that. Knowing that you don't need to be compelled to do something in order to be happy with it."

"Art is a portal in which I can both distract myself from and/or study the life I lead," Sean concluded. "It is where I can be both near and far from the woes of my heart and mind."

"You sound like a poet," Kimberly said.

"Or a philosopher," Zack added.

"I've dabbled in such in my 'off-hours'," Sean admitted, revealing in subtext that he thought like this more than that. "For isn't every artist a philosopher in their own right? It is an ingenious way to bring forth reason and the imaginary in ways that in reality would make no sense but to the absurd. Yet, when closely observed, the absurd is more like reality than people would first admit."

Finally realizing that her face was numb with disbelief, Kimberly slapped her eyelids together at the intellect pouring from her house guest's mouth.

"I seem to have overwhelmed my hosts," Sean said, darting his eyes between his companions.

"No, it's just—I didn't expect that," Kimberly said.

Zack remained silent, though continued surveying Sean with wonder.

"When you have fought as much as I have, the simple privileges in life become more of a treasured desire than the grander ones," Sean added, looking at both of them. "Friendship, kindness, companionship… those are what counts in a person's life because at some point down the road, that is all he finds he has to keep going; but at the same time, it becomes easier to lose sight of. Therefore, let's cherish this meal."

Moments of silence passed as they ate and drank, refueling their bodies. Soon even Zack felt more human. Chuckles hummed through his throat and soon swelled into a raucous laughter. Delighted at the sight, Kimberly joined in. Sean surveyed both of them, feeling their spirits soar our of post traumatic semi depression. He smiled, embracing the astral brilliance of his aura. With his mind's eye, he saw that it shimmered with a dazzling solid yellow and emerald green. Though not at full intensity because of Trini's condition, Zack's improved humor was enough to rejuvenate Sean's life energy. He sighed.

"Hard to imagine a tragedy occurred out of the blue," Sean commented matter-of-factly without preamble.

Kimberly had just lifted another mouthful of pancakes to her mouth, but then lowered her fork. She had completely forgotten about the previous events in her flurry of cooking up something for Zack and Sean. Now it all came rushing back to her, bombarding her shoulders with leaded weight.

"Sorrow will not turn these events around," Sean went on. "In fact, only with raised spirits can we overcome the coming days' obstacles."

"We know we're in danger," Zack responded.

"But you do not know your enemy," Sean countered, "An enemy that has dealt us a crippling blow." He stared at Zack. "And I have made matters worse by giving you and Trini back your ranger powers too early. However, as long as you remain hopeful and jolly, the stronger I shall be."

"You mean our ranger powers will be stronger?" Zack asked, remembering their fusion.

"Are you saying our powers are connected to our emotions?" Kimberly asked, scooping up another mouthful.

"Yes," Sean said, nodding. "Your powers are now a part of you, connected with your life energy. Is it not so that when one is happy, that person feels more energized?"

"Yeah," Zack said.

"The same is applied to our ranger powers," Sean continued.

"Isn't that self-confidence?" Zack asked, remembering something Zordon had told them about their morphing powers.

"Exactly," Sean answered.

"Hang on—that's how it was when we were rangers before: our first major defeat." The memory of he, Kimberly, Billy, and Trini accepting defeat after the original Megazord had been destroyed during a battle with Goldar, Scorpina, and the evil Green Ranger flashed in his mind. During that meeting, Alpha 5 and Jason had kept preaching words of confidence and perseverance to them. Unfortunately, the others had closed their ears to that. Zack frowned. During that time, Tommy was a slave to Evil, and Jason was the voice of reason—a warrior of light. Now, twelve years later the tides had changed. Nevertheless, Jason and Alpha's words of encouragement resonated in his memory.

Across the table, Kimberly was thinking of that same moment, when the gloom of despair had permeated the Command Center and infected her, Zack, Trini, and Billy. Remorse crawled up the underside of her skin as she remembered that she was the first to voice her teammates' discouragement and dismay.

"The Power Rangers are history," she had said.

"It's over!" Trini exclaimed. "Rita's won!"

"Rangers, we can't give up," Jason said.

"Why shouldn't we?" Kimberly countered. "Zordon's gone. The Megazord has been destroyed. We're outmatched."

Alpha crossed over to Billy. "Billy, what are the chances of bringing Zordon back online?"

A disheartened Billy shrugged and shook his head. "Less than ten percent," he responded.

"Isn't the smallest chance of victory enough of a reason to keep fighting?" Jason asked, moving to the center of the group. "The world needs us, rangers!"

"Let's face it," Zack interjected, opposing Jason, "The Green Ranger was Rita's trump card. She played it. She won!"

Even now, Zack's mouth stung with disgust at his betrayal of faith in their power and teamwork.

"No, Rangers, I cannot accept that," Alpha had said. "Zordon would not accept that."

"But Zordon's not here," Trini interjected.

Zack gritted his teeth at the memory.

And yet, even without Zordon, Alpha had found a way to discover Tommy's identity, thus motivating them back into action. Maybe their current struggle wasn't as dark as they had imagined.

"But what about Trini?" Kimberly interjected. "Isn't she going to put a damper on you guys' power?"

"For now, yes," Sean said. "But Zack, you are more capable to be in higher spirits now than she is. Later today, I shall talk with her. It is she who must break out of her depression and for that to occur she will need guidance."

Zack and Kimberly exchanged glances, reading each other's worry.

"Have faith, rangers," Sean encouraged, sipping his tea. "In time, we will see where choice and fate lead us too."

Zack and Kimberly stared into each other's eyes. Although they had sworn to be power rangers again, for the first time since then, they had hope to reinforce their determination.

His mind now clearer, Zack gazed at Sean. "Sean?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

"When I was sprinting earlier…" he began, "Were you… encouraging me?"

Sean gazed at him with glistening eyes. "Wisely chosen words," he said. "However, you were doing the motivating, not I. I only opened myself to you so that you could call on my strength which you did unconsciously."

"That was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Half my body still feels like pudding."

"But you got through it, and so did I. You're body is only strained because it's not used to such exertion, so it misinterprets that for fatigue. Frankly, I would not recommend doing that again."

Zack chuckled. "Don't worry. I don't plan to."

"Zack, why did you do something so unhealthy?" she asked, the logistics of the situation still baffling her.

"I found that to be remarkable too," Sean chimed in. There was more occurring then the others suspected. Kimberly's match off against Jason the previous night was evidence of that, how she had been there without any alert. I wonder… he mused, piecing some of the puzzle together. That would make sense but I need more to go on.

Zack sighed and then shook his head. "I don't know. I just felt like sprinting I guess."

"That makes no sense," Kimberly remarked.

"Yes, it does," Sean said.

Zack and Kimberly darted their eyes at him.

"What do you mean?" Kimberly asked.

"When was the last time you guys exercised?" Sean asked.

Kimberly strummed through her memories. To be quite honest, all she had done was her normal gymnastic routine yesterday morning. Due to her shock, she had no yet worked out or exercised. Plus, it was still 7:00 in the morning.

"Well, I was hoping to burn off some stress but not put myself in a panic," Zack admitted.

"Perhaps you had more than you thought," Sean suggested.

Zack thought about this for a second. "Yeah. Maybe."

"How do you feel?" Sean asked.

"Lighter," Zack responded. "But still confused."

"That's a start. Now, let's finish this excellent feast before it gets too cold."

Shoving doubt and worry out of their minds, Kimberly and Zack resumed eating. None of them could afford listening to their doubts. With lightened hearts, they filled the remaining empty pockets of their stomachs with food prepared with love, which sang through their bodies.

Meanwhile Sean scanned Kimberly's guest bedroom. Trini was still there, alone—distant. I hope can find rest, my friend, he prayed. For in the coming hour, you will need more courage than I can inspire in you.

He was just turning his attention back to his meal when his eyelids sank shut and his head tittered forward, weighted by exertion. Collecting his wits, he sighed.

"Something wrong?" Kimberly asked, holding her mug to her lips.

"Only my mitochondria," Sean joked, smirking. "I'm just not used to this."

"Well," Zack chimed in, "If it makes a difference, I'll take it easy today at work."

Sean gazed at him with opened eyes. Finally, after hours of tense pressure, a bridge of friendship had broken through the chaos from one of the other rangers to Sean. Inside Zack, Sean felt the skepticism seal break, opening the door for collaboration. Sean smiled. "It will," he replied, his heart lifting. "Thank you."

"No problem," Zack replied.

With that, Sean finished his tea and sank into a moment's deep meditation. However joyful he was, his body was still infected with fatigue, but at least now, he had a full stomach.