Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. I think Saban owns them again. It was Disney for a while, but whoever owns them, it's definitely not me. I also don't own any song lyrics. I'm just borrowing to set the mood.

AN: Here's chapter 4! Thanks for all the great reviews. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

AN 2: Set in 2007 following the Operation Overdrive episode "Once a Ranger". Refer to the prologue and chapter 1 for other important author's notes.

Crimson Rising

Chapter 4: New Way to Bleed

By drifting far beyond the edge
Freedom, freedom,
Can't you feel the ground caving in?
Freedom,
Give us a reason to believe again
I feel it coming over me
I'm still a slave to these dreams
Is this the end of everything?
Or just a new way to bleed?

Song: New Way to Bleed

Artist: Evanescence

Ninja Ops

They filed down the stairs into Ninja Ops and found Sensei Watanabe waiting for them.

"Dad…" Cam called.

"I know Cam. I sensed the disturbance and saw your battle on the monitors," Sensei informed, motioning to the recorded footage.

"Sensei…have you ever seen creatures like these before?" Tori asked.

"I have not Tori, but I fear that this is only the beginning of something very bad," Sensei said, looking more worried than he had in a long time.

"Those things could have beaten us, but they didn't. Why?" Shane asked.

"We were being tested," Hunter concluded, as all eyes turned to him.

"I fear that Hunter is right. Perhaps it is time to consult other teams to see if they have seen such creatures as well," Sensei suggested.

"We could e-mail the footage to Adam in Angel Grove," Tori suggested.

"Hey, yeah and maybe Dr. Oliver in Reefside. He's been a ranger for like…ever!" Dustin said.

"It's a good idea, but this is pretty sensitive footage where we're all using our powers. I think we should go show them the footage in person," Cam suggested.

"And leave Blue Bay Harbor unprotected?" Shane asked warily.

"I'll go to Reefside and meet with Hayley and Dr. Oliver. It's only forty minutes from here. Since Tori knows Adam, she and Hunter can ride to Angel Grove. It's a good four hours, but if there is an emergency and you two get in a bind, we can always be teleported back in an emergency," Cam stated. Hunter nodded.

"We'll get up early and be there by mid-morning," Hunter decided.

"There's nothing more to do here tonight. Let's go eat and then all go home and get some rest," Shane suggested, as they prepared to head back into town.

Los Angeles

Kira cheered loudly with the home crowd, as Conner made the final winning goal. His team surrounded him in victory and she cheered for him, as their eyes met from across the field. She made her way down from her VIP box to the sidelines where he scooped her up and spun her around.

"Congratulations," she whispered in his ear.

"Thanks, I doubt I could do any of it without you," he told her.

"Whatever, you were playing soccer long before we were together, charmer," she teased, as she saw the cameras locked on them. Conner rolled his eyes, as they refrained from the kiss they really wanted to share. Too many times they had been snapped by the various media publications and their love was something they preferred to be just for them and not for the world to exploit. Plus, every time they were caught on camera, Ethan was ribbing Conner about it on the phone the next day, much to his annoyance. Since the two of them had come from such different ends of the social spectrum in high school, their coupling intrigued both people that knew them and people that didn't. But what they had between them was something only former rangers who were also together could understand. They both were just fine with being an enigma to everyone around them. What was a mystery to others made perfect sense to them and that was all that mattered.

"Come on, I'm starved. Let's get out of here," Conner said, as he picked up his bag.

"Don't you need to go celebrate with the team?" she asked coyly.

"They don't need me to get drunk off their asses. Besides, our celebrating is much more…entertaining," he said, wriggling his eyebrows at her playfully.

"You're incorrigible, Conner McKnight," she scolded.

"But you love me, despite that," he replied, as he led her toward the dark, private back parking lot where the players parked.

As they neared Conner's car, several pairs of beady purple eyes glared at them in the darkness. Conner and Kira stopped dead in their tracks, as they were surrounded by the oozing creatures.

"Conner…what are they?" Kira wondered.

"I…don't know," he replied, as he pulled her closer. The closest creature hissed and growled at them, as he whipped his oozing dreadlocks at him. Conner cried out in pain, as he was slashed across the chest and thrown onto his back.

"CONNER!" Kira screamed, as the creatures descended on her. Her Ptera scream rang out, as they tried to grab her. But it only momentarily deterred them, before they advanced again. Conner leapt to his feet, despite the lacerations on his chest. He grabbed her around the waist and used his super speed to make their escape. He finally stopped when they were a few miles away in an alleyway.

"Oh my God," Kira cried, as she examined the whip marks through his torn jersey.

"I'm fine," he insisted, as he attempted to catch his breath.

"We need to get to Dr. O. Call it red ranger instinct, but those freaks were definitely bad news," Conner groaned. Kira nodded and examined where they were, before dialing a number on her cell phone.

"Hello," Tanya Sloan answered.

"Tanya…it's Kira," her voice trembled.

"What's up girl?" her manager asked.

"Conner and I were attacked by these purple creatures. We got away, but we need to get to Reefside to see Dr. O," Kira explained.

"I'm on my way. Where are you guys?" Tanya asked.

"The corner of Harvest Road and twenty-first," Kira responded.

"Stay put and give me thirty," Tanya replied. Kira let out a shaky breath and Conner hugged her close. Neither could know that their lives were about to change forever…

Blue Bay Harbor

Hunter gazed out at the ocean from the balcony just outside their small two bedroom apartment. Since the appearance of the creatures earlier in the evening, he had been on edge. There was something in the air and it was giving him a terrible, gut feeling that something big was coming and it wasn't good. He couldn't shake the bad feeling he had and the look on Sensei Watanabe's face earlier told Hunter that they were going to be dealing with something far worse than Lothor. Sensei Omino had been briefed on the situation and now they were headed to Angel Grove to consult a veteran ranger in the morning. But Hunter already knew it was bad.

"Babe…are you coming to bed?" Tori called out. He turned and gazed at her, drinking in everything about her. Her beauty still managed to stun him to speechlessness on a daily basis. Even in a simple light blue tank top and white shorts, she was breathtaking and he wondered what she had ever seen in him. He wasn't always the easiest person to deal with, though he had become better, thanks to her love. Where most usually gave up on trying to talk to him or get along with him, she had pressed on, somehow tearing down all his defenses and staking her claim on his heart. He never in a million years thought he'd fall so deeply in love. He imagined it would be Blake that would find someone and he would always be the loner Uncle to his brother's big family. He had never contemplated that he would find someone first. His feelings for Tori had caught him completely off guard. She was everything to him and now there was possibly something out there that would threaten to take it all away.

"Yeah…" he finally replied, as he took her hand and went inside with her.

"I know what you're thinking," she said suddenly, as they reached the bedroom. He smirked, as he tossed his shirt away.

"Oh really?" he asked playfully. She smirked back, enjoying the view of his bare, muscled chest and torso.

"You're not a mystery to me anymore, Thunder boy," she replied, as she snaked her arms around his waist.

"Nothing…and I repeat nothing is going to happen to me…to us…" she promised. He sighed.

"I wish I could be as confident as you," he replied.

"We're in this together, no matter what," she promised, sealing it with a kiss on his lips, before climbing into bed, her eyes beckoning him. He undid his belt and stripped down to his boxers, before turning out the light and climbing in beside her. Despite his foreboding feelings, as usual, she managed to slowly kiss away his worries. And in the darkness, lost in the throes of their passion, for that night, they became the only thing that mattered or existed…

Early the next morning…

Ivan Ooze watched the former crimson thunder ranger and blue wind ranger, as they departed Blue Bay Harbor for Angel Grove. Just as he suspected, they were running to the more experienced rangers for advice and would soon know about him. The crimson one intrigued him and he couldn't put his finger on why. He was powerful…and reminded him of someone, an enemy from long ago…

Flashback

Ivan cackled evilly, as the Council of Meledon fought him fruitlessly.

"You cannot defeat me, wizard fools," Ivan cackled gleefully, as he glared at Dulcea and her brother Zordon.

"That's where you're wrong, Ooze," a strong male voice rang out. Flaming wings fizzled out, as the crimson phoenix ranger landed before him. Ivan snarled.

"Zander…" he hissed.

"Your reign of terror ends here. You will not continue to plague this young planet," Zander stated, referring to the sparsely populated planet known as Earth, which was in its infancy.

"You won't stop me, Phoenix ranger!" Ivan screamed, as he launched purple lightning at the Eltarian warrior. In one palm, crimson thunder crackled to life and in the other, a Phoenix fireball appeared. Zander launched his own attack, meeting Ivan's magic with his own power. Ooze felt himself slipping back and tried in vain to regain control. But the Phoenix Ninjetti was too powerful.

"Ready the hyper lock chamber!" Zander called to his teammates. Zordon performed the spell and Ivan felt himself being sucked into the chamber.

"You'll all pay for this…mark my words; I will return and destroy you all!" Ivan screamed, as he was sealed away in the prison where he would remain for six thousand years.

End Flashback

"No…it's not possible," Ivan muttered under his breath, as he stared at the one called Hunter Bradley. The resemblance to Zander was uncanny, but it had to be mere coincidence. The boy was in his twenties and Zander had been dead for thousands of years. A crimson thunder ranger that was the near spitting image of Zander, the legendary Phoenix Ninjetti was one hell of a coincidence though. He would have to keep a close eye on this one. If it was even possible that he was related to Zander, then he would have to be destroyed before his dormant powers were awakened.

"Toxa…" Ivan called.

"Yes Father?" she asked, coming to his side.

"Keep a close eye on this one, Hunter Bradley. He may be more trouble than we originally thought," Ooze ordered.

"I will do as you command," she responded, as she observed the human she was charged with spying on. Her father was right…there was something about this one…

Reefside

Tommy Oliver rubbed his still sleep filled eyes, as he parked his jeep outside Hayley's cyberspace. It was only six thirty in the morning and school wouldn't start for another ninety minutes. For that reason, he had sharply protested Hayley's early phone call an hour ago insisting that he meet her at her business. But when she said that it was urgent, as in Dino urgent, he had been jolted awake a little.

"All right Hayley, you better have some coffee waiting for me," Tommy called, as he trudged inside.

"We do," Hayley responded, as she and Cam Watanabe emerged from the back room.

"Oh boy, don't tell me Lothor is back or something?" Tommy asked.

"Not Lothor, but something. The others and I were attacked by these creatures last night. We fought them off with our powers, but we were really no match," Cam explained, as he handed him a cup of coffee.

"Dad and Hunter think we were being tested, because they pulled back so suddenly. We figured we should get some insight and since Tori has recently been acquainted with Adam, I sent her and Hunter to Angel Grove. I came here to show you this," Cam continued, as Hayley put the footage on the monitor. Tommy's eyes instantly hardened and his jaw set, as he clenched his teeth.

"Ivan Ooze…" he muttered.

"You do know what these are then?" Cam asked. Tommy gave him a curt nod.

"So does Adam," Tommy replied.

"How much trouble are we in?" the former green Samurai asked. The former wielder of four colors glanced wearily at him.

"Let's just say that compared to this guy, Lothor and Mesagog were a walk in the park and a day at the beach," Tommy responded, as he took out his cell phone.

"I'll call in sick and then I'll walk you through the whole story," he told them both. Ivan Ooze was not someone he had included in his ranger video diary, as it was a weekend that he and his former teammates would rather forget.

Angel Grove

The crimson street bike sped into the Angel Grove city limits about ten that morning and Hunter slowed to match the posted speed limits

"Any idea where he lives?" Hunter spoke to her through their helmet microphones.

"No, but he said he owned a dojo. Let's stop and look up martial arts schools in a phone book," Tori suggested. Hunter nodded and pulled into a gas station. While he put gas in his bike, Tori went inside for drinks and to find a phone book. She bit her bottom lip, as she looked through the pages. There were way more karate schools in Angel Grove than she ever imagined. She started walking to the counter while still looking and felt herself bump into someone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she apologized, as she looked up finding a large man in her way.

"No problem, looking for someone?" he asked.

"Yes, he owns a dojo here, but I don't know the name of it," she replied.

"Hey Bulkie, what kind of soda do you want?" a skinny dark haired man called from the back of the store.

"Surprise me," he called back.

"I've lived in Angel Grove all my life. Who's the owner?" the portly man asked.

"Adam Park," she replied.

"Oh we know Adam, went to High School with him," the skinny man said.

"Yep, you'll find him at the Red Frog dojo right on 5th street downtown. He runs it with his old friend Rocky Desantos," the man said. Tori smiled.

"Thank you so much," she said.

"Always glad to help a pretty lady," he said, as they watched a tall, spiky blonde haired man come in and scan the place until his eyes rested on her.

"Thanks again for your help," Tori said, as she met Hunter at the door. Bulk watched them for a moment, wondering why they seemed familiar. He had never seen them before, but something about the air around them reminded him of something he couldn't put his finger on. The two paid for their drinks and gas and hurried back out to the man's motorcycle.

"What is it Bulkie?" Skull asked.

"I'm not sure yet," Bulk replied.

Triforia

Explosions rocked the peaceful planet of Triforia, as a destructive invasion came as a sudden and rude awakening that morning. The Phantom ranger fell to his knees and his ruby flickered in and out, his power fading fast.

"You fought valiantly, Phantom Ranger, but you were never a match for me," Xinshing stated, as he drew his blood stained, curved blade back to strike. The master warrior's prized weapon was made of a the sharpest known metal in the galaxy, found in abundance on his home planet of Duronia and heavily mined by the Ooze Empire in use for weapons making. It had even been used in the construction of Ivan's original Ecto-Morphicons. The gleaming chrome colored blade pierced Phantom's armor like butter and blood spattered violently, as the metal swept through him, now protruding out his back.

"NOOOO!" the Gold Ranger cried, as he charged Xin's minions with a wild assault of Gold Rush attacks. Xin seemed unconcerned by the charging Prince of Triforia and gave his blade a sadistic twist, enjoying the sound of the ruby wielding ranger choking on his own blood in his throat. Extracting the blade with a quick pull, Phantom collapsed to the ground, face down, a pool of black blood, slowly turning crimson in color beneath him.

"Murderer!" Trey cried, as he charged the green skinned animal that was destroying his home and had slaughtered his parents in their sleep with a carefully aimed blast at the palace. Xinshing stood unharmed by the Gold Rush attacks and sent a blast of red colored energy at the prince, hitting his staff and causing an explosion of gold energy. Trey was thrown back, as particles of black and gold exploded around him. The Gold power staff lay broken and charred in his hand, his powers destroyed forever. The unmorphed prince attempted to catch his breath, but felt the Ooze Empire's top general grab him by the tunic and force him to his knees.

"Triforia belongs now to the Ooze Empire. Your allies, including Aquitar, Mirinoi, and finally the Earth will follow," Xin stated.

"The Earth rangers, powers or not, cannot be underestimated. They will not stand for what has occurred here today, monster," Trey spat defiantly. Xin chuckled.

"You rangers are so amusing. I have watched your Earth friends for years and believe me, I'm not worried about the likes of Tommy Oliver and his band of hormonal fools that call themselves power rangers," Xin jabbed.

"Then it is you who is the fool. Tommy Oliver will the least of your worries, lapdog," Trey spat, earning him a nasty belt across the mouth. Blood sprayed from his broken nose and he coughed, as the metallic taste burned his throat.

"Lord Ooze has ordered your execution, Gold Ranger. Have you anything else to spout before I take your head?" Xin commanded. Trey smirked, as he recalled his recent visit to the Ninjetti Temple. The Master Warrior of Phaedos had predicted the coming of this darkness and pleaded with the prince to prepare the necessary warning for the rangers of Earth. Fortunately, Trey had listened and his information would soon be in trusted hands. He was going to die…but he was confident that the lost prince of Phaedos, once his destiny was revealed, would avenge them all.

"My death will ignite a war between good and evil. The Chosen warrior will rise and merge with his destiny. Fire will awaken in his soul. Thunder will tremble from his fingertips and the firebird will avenge all the victims taken by evil. The result of the final battle is unknown, but I have confidence in my side with the rangers of Earth standing in your Emperor's way," Trey stated, holding his head high. Xin smirked.

"You're about to die and you choose to spout some prophecy about thunder and fire?" Xin questioned. Trey actually grinned at the villain, the kind of smile that said he knew something that the villain before him didn't. Xinshing didn't care and brought his gleaming blade up.

"Good night sweet prince," Xin hissed, as he beheaded the Gold Ranger, ending his life in the name of Lord Ooze. Triforia belonged to the Ooze Empire now…

Reefside

Hayley's Cyberspace

"He fell into the path of the comet and collided with it. There was a big explosion and he was gone. I…can't even comprehend how he could be back from that," Tommy said, finishing his story of their battle with Ivan Ooze twelve years ago.

"If he is a morphological being as you said and he's made up mostly of this purple ooze substance, then it's very possible that his remnants have been floating through space on the comet debris all this time," Cam speculated. Hayley nodded.

"That's the only explanation. The question is: how did he manage to pull himself together when he was just particles of splattered ooze?" Hayley wondered.

"Even a morphological being needs help pulling that one off," Cam stated. Tommy nodded in agreement.

"Then he's not working alone. Someone brought him back and I haven't got a clue as to who it could be," Tommy replied.

"Zordon's wave either destroyed all the usual suspects or turned them good. Any evil that has come after that has had no connection to those villains or Zordon, excluding Thrax of course. Am I correct?" Hayley asked. Tommy nodded.

"Yeah, Trey witnessed the wave hit Rita and Zedd. They were turned good and they've remained that way as far as I know. Zedd is still around and though he's been all mysterious, he has given up his old ways. As far as I know, Rita is the same way," Tommy responded.

"From my research in trying to keep up with ranger history, I remember hearing that Rita was helping the Mystic Force rangers recently, so I think it's safe to say she has nothing to do with it," Cam stated.

"No, this is someone new…someone we've never heard of," Tommy said, more and more sure about that as the moments passed.

"But…we've seen how well villains work together in the past. Lothor and Mesagog are the prime example. They worked together only to take on both ranger teams, but were waiting to double cross each other the first chance they got," Hayley recognized.

"Your point?" Cam asked. Hayley suppressed an eye roll.

"My point is that why would this person or whoever it is go through what I'm sure was a huge undertaking to bring back someone like Ivan Ooze, knowing full well that once he was back, he would take control of the operation? Evil villains like to run their own show and control everything. None of them have ever been able to give up control to someone more powerful, even if it usually means losing to the power rangers," Hayley said. Cam and Tommy looked at each other, a little surprised. Hayley sighed.

"You don't sit at that monitor and watch all these battles and not pick that up…or apparently you do if you're a man," she quipped, earning a sheepish smirk from Tommy.

"Okay…so if that's true, then the person or people that brought him back have to be followers. Ones that are completely loyal to him and have no problem handing over control to him," Cam concluded. Tommy nodded.

"Seems that way, which means we're still in the dark until he wants us to know more. And Ivan Ooze likes to play games…sadistic games where people get hurt or killed. He puts on this campy front, with quick quips and jokes, but that's all it is…a front to cover up how evil he really is. There's nothing campy about his minions either," Tommy said in a serious tone.

"You got that right," another voice said. The three turned to find a tired looking Conner and Kira trudge in with an African American woman in yellow behind them.

"Tanya?" Tommy asked, as he got up. The songstress smiled and hugged her old teammate.

"How you doing, Dr. Oliver?" she asked, nudging him playfully about the doctor part. Tommy shook his head. His teammates always gave him plenty of ribbing about that since he had barely been able to get to class on time in high school.

"I'd like to say well, but it looks like you guys had a rough night," Tommy said, noticing the bandage under Conner's torn jersey.

"Those things on the screen look like what we saw last night," Kira said.

"They attacked us in Blue Bay Harbor last night too. Tori and Hunter went to Angel Grove to show this to Adam," Cam mentioned.

"So you know what they are?" Conner asked. Tommy nodded with a look of dread on his face.

"It's not good, especially if he's attacked two different teams now. It means that they know who we all are," Tommy said.

"We should start the gathering then. We just need to decide on a place to meet," Hayley added.

"Ninja Ops is still pretty secretive, though I doubt it can keep this guy out if all you said is true," Cam mentioned.

"Dr. O's basement is a little small too," Conner mentioned.

"Ninja Ops is probably our best bet until Adam and I can figure out what kind of condition the old power chamber is in," Tommy replied.

"Well…Adam reactivated Alpha recently. He had to repair the Morphing Grid for the Overdrive rangers. Can he help?" Kira asked. Tommy nodded with a smile.

"Yes and Alpha also might have some insight. He knows most everything Zordon knew and there might be stuff we don't know," Tommy said gravely.

"What do you mean?" Conner asked. Tommy sighed.

"Zordon was our mentor…like a second father to most of us. But it was no secret that he didn't tell us everything," Tommy explained.

"And you were okay with that?" the soccer star questioned. Tommy shrugged.

"Not always, but we all respected him. He was a very wise sage. If he didn't tell us something, then I'm sure he had a good reason," Tommy said.

"Well, let's hope so. What we don't know might get us killed," the former red Dino ranger spouted. Kira elbowed him in the ribs for his blunt and slightly disrespectful comment.

"It's okay Kira, he's right. I need to get in touch with Adam," Tommy said, as they decided to go back to Tommy's house and make the calls from their base of operations in the doctor's basement…