Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. Saban and Nickelodeon own them. I also don't own any song lyrics used.

AN: Here's chapter 27! Enjoy and let me know what you think! Thanks to all the great reviews too and here's notes to those individuals:

TommyOliverMMPRFan: Yes, it will be epic. Unfortunately, it will happen likely in the next chapter. Hope you still enjoy this chapter though. :)

garnetred: Thanks, glad you're enjoying the story! :)

Pinkrangerfan: Thanks, glad you're enjoying the story. Enjoy this next installment!

Skull RiderSP: Thanks, glad you like that plotline. But no VR Troopers and Beetleborgs will not be included. I didn't get into those shows.

WideOpenSpacesGirl045: Thanks, glad you liked the romance. There is a bit more in the chapter. Enjoy!

fallingstar22: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the Dustin/Marah bit. As for Andros and the others arriving on Phaedos at the same time, we shall see. ;)

Yep, Tori will eventually find out about her dad, but it might not be a happy reunion. She will be angry with him for leaving and he doesn't like the fact that she's a ranger so there might be a bumpy ride ahead. ;)

Nosside: Thanks, glad you enjoyed the chapter. I know what you mean, I hate fillers too. That's why I do my best to make the filler stuff interesting, since I've found that sometimes filler chapters are a necessary evil. ;)

MMPRFansince93: Thanks, glad you enjoyed everything! Yeah, Tori's dad is not dead and I see you caught the hint I dropped earlier in the story. As I said above to another reviewer, Tori and her dad's relationship may be bumpy when she finds out. Enjoy this next chapter!

Guest: To answer your question, "will there be an evil ranger?" Probably not. I'm not a huge fan of the evil ranger thing. It's way overdone in my opinion and I try to come up with plotlines and themes that I don't see a lot or at the very least put my own spin on a familiar plotline. That's why I've chosen to take the route I have with Overdrive. Will and Dax are not evil, far from it, but they're making bad choices. It's more human and more realistic, in my opinion. So no, there will probably not be an evil ranger and if there was, it probably wouldn't be Blake. ;)

XoxMountainGirlxoX: Thanks for your review! I'm glad you're enjoying the story. As for Blake and Carly, yes, I'm edging toward a pairing with them. I thought it was interesting to put Blake with a well done OC. I always see Hunter put with an OC, some good, some not so good, and while I enjoy the good ones, I like putting him with Tori and seeing Blake branch out a little. Hope you continue to enjoy. :)

Harry2: Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying the story. :)

RHatch89: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. And you're right, it's not foolproof and their new zords are far superior to what the Thunderzords were. But they have stripped the technology from the remains of those zords. As for what they came up with, that remains to be seen. I haven't even decided myself if their zords will be a threat or a minor hinderance. Stay tuned. ;)

Crimson Rising

Chapter 27: Afterglow

Just like the summers when we always knew
I would come back to you
And tell you all my fears are real

You're my afterglow
I know I can't let
You're my afterglow
I can't let you go

Kiss me baby
I'm crazy for you
Kiss me baby
I'm crazy for you

So many times I've had your smile
Split my heart in two
You didn't have a clue, did you?

Song: Afterglow

Artist: Eyeshine

The Legacy Compound

Adam turned away from the light that was slowly peeking through the curtains in his bedroom. He rolled over and smiled at the beauty lying beside him. He couldn't help the cheesy grin that eclipsed his face, as he thought about the events last night.

Adam wrapped a towel around his waist, after finishing his shower, and heard the door to the room open and shut in the other room. Thinking it was just his roommate, he thought nothing of walking out into the room dressed or undressed as he was. He stood frozen in his tracks though, as he found Tanya waiting for him with a sly grin that made him both nervous and excited.

"Oh, hey T," he said, suddenly very aware that he was wearing only a towel, a fact which Tanya seemed to be appreciating.

"Looks like I got here just in time," she replied, as she slowly approached and let her hands explore his bare, shredded torso. Teaching Martial Arts for a living had kept Adam Park in top physical form.

His senses were instantly filled with her beautiful face, her perfect cocoa skin, and all her womanly curves. She snaked her arms around his neck and their lips were pressed together before he could even register what was happening. How he loved kissing her. Kissing any other woman he had ever kissed had always paled in comparison to the way he felt when kissing his Tanya. He suddenly and unfortunately remembered that he didn't share this room alone though.

"Uh…Tommy will probably be back soon," he said regrettably, as he parted his lips from hers. She giggled and noticed that his towel was doing little to hide how worked up she had him already.

"Tommy is not coming back here tonight, as a certain Crane is probably getting him as hot and bothered right now as I'm getting you apparently," she replied with a smirk. Adam blushed and cursed his body.

"You're all mine tonight, frog boy," Tanya hissed, as she tackled his lips again. Adam's excitement slowly overwhelmed his remaining nervousness and he fumbled with the buttons on her green cardigan.

"You're so beautiful…" he whispered, as he stared at her, before bringing his lips to her neck. Tanya gasped, as he quickly lifted her up and onto his bed.

He smiled at the memory and saw dark gypsy eyes staring back at him now.

"Good morning," he whispered. She grinned back.

"Morning Frog Prince," she whispered back, as their lips met again and their passion resurfaced, burning as brightly as it had the night before.

As the rem of her deep sleep began to fade, Kimberly became aware of the light that was slowly filling the bedroom. She frowned sleepily, as her new awareness caused her to realize that the very warm body that had been lying entwined with her own was gone. She opened her bleary, sleep filled eyes and found Tommy not far away, wearing only a pair of training pants and practicing one of his morning katas. She had a feeling there would be many mornings just like this one and she was giddy as she thought about the previous night's events.

"Morning beautiful," he greeted with a smile.

"Morning handsome," she replied, as he kissed her passionately.

"Do you know how long I've dreamed of this?" he asked huskily.

"Of what?" she asked between kisses.

"Of waking up next to you," he replied, as he kissed her again.

"Of making love to you like last night," he added, as their lips met again. She smiled.

"Me too…and it almost didn't happen, because of me," she replied.

"Hey…none of that. That's all in the past now. We're together and we love each other. That's all that matters," he reminded, as he slid back into bed with her.

"I know…I just can't help but think what might have been if I never wrote that stupid letter," Kimberly fretted.

"Let's not focus on that. We're here now. It just took us longer than we had hoped, but that's why we shouldn't waste any more time," Tommy said, as he kissed her neck. She smiled.

"Well, we do have a lot of catching up to do," she replied, as their lips met again and he threw the covers over them.

Jason lost his hands in her silky raven tresses, as their lips dueled passionately. Trini's hands marveled and caressed her husband's amazingly ripped chest and torso. She was very aware that he was built like a Greek god and never missed an opportunity to engage in the physical side of their relationship. Jason hungrily kissed her neck, as they slowly came down from the high that their early morning lovemaking had created.

"That was the best way to wake up," Jason said, grinning at her. She smiled back.

"Definitely," she replied, pecking him on the lips again, before resting against his bare, sweat slicked chest. He heard his phone beep and picked it up from the bedside table, hoping it was finally a text from Zack, who had been strangely silent recently. He sighed when he saw that it was Tommy, asking him if had heard from him. The Turbo's hadn't responded to any of Tommy's texts either.

"Who is it?" Trini asked.

"Just Tommy…he hasn't been able to get a hold of T.J. or Justin either," Jason replied.

"You think Gorbin got to them?" she asked.

"It's highly possible. They're not active anymore and Gorbin's lapdogs might have been able to arrest them. In any case, we need to find them and I think Washington is a good place to start. We need to know what's going on," Jason said. Trini nodded and she kissed him tenderly.

"Just promise me that you'll be careful," she pleaded. He smiled and kissed her again.

"Promise," he stated, sealing it with a kiss.

Sometime later in the kitchen

"So we were thinking that tonight would be a good opportunity for some team bonding, providing there are no attacks, of course," Jason suggested, as he and Tommy sat at the breakfast table with several others.

"You mean you want to get the younger ones smashed," Kimberly said knowingly.

"You know, I'm hurt by that Kimmy. I can't believe you'd even suggest that I'd corrupt any of my fellow ranger males," Jason said with mock hurt in his voice.

"Nice try baby, but no one's buying that," Trini replied, as she set a plate of cut pineapple on the table.

"You guys are just lucky that we think it's a good idea for a girl's night. I don't know how poor Tori and Kira got stuck on a team with all boys, but those girls need time with their fellow female rangers," Aisha said, as she sat next to Rocky, who was shoveling pancakes into his mouth.

"Then it's on. Boys get the rec room and girls get the living room," Tommy said.

"Okay, but you guys have to promise to actually bond and not just try to drink each other under the table," Trini said. They scoffed.

"That is male bonding," Jason argued, earning him eye rolls from the women.

"What did you find?" Tommy asked to Rocky.

"Well, there's plenty of beer, but I figured we'd need something harder to get Hunter tipsy if what Zedd told us is right," Rocky replied.

"And?" Jason prompted.

"I found some vodka, brandy, and scotch. Oh, and some whiskey too," Rocky replied.

"That should do it," Tommy said.

"Not to change the subject, but has anyone heard from Zack in the last few days?" Trini asked.

"Not a peep," Kimberly replied worriedly.

"Carlos hasn't answered any of my calls either," Adam said, as he and Tanya came into the kitchen. He poured some coffee, while she sat down.

"T.J. hasn't answered either. I thought maybe he was just lying low…" Tommy admitted.

"Or Gorbin has something to do with this. It's not like Zack not to call and my gut is telling me that something is off," Jason said.

"We also need to find out what the hell is going on in Washington. I read online that no one has seen the President since the day he made that broadcast that revealed our identities," Adam mentioned.

"Okay, I know Washington so I'll take a few of us and go poke around there this morning," Jason suggested.

"Are you sure that's wise? Even in disguise, you could be recognized," Trini warned.

"That's a chance we'll have to take. In the meantime, see if Billy and Hayley can hack into the Angel Grove Police Department's system and find the Turbo's last locations. I have a feeling that wherever they are, Zack is with them," Tommy said. They agreed and dispersed.

"Good swells?" Hunter asked, as he met his girlfriend on the beach. Tori smiled and set her surfboard down in the sand so she could wrap her arms around him.

"I haven't seen swells like these in Blue Bay for months," she replied, as she kissed him tenderly.

"You looked amazing out there as usual," he complimented.

"You just like watching me, because I'm wearing a bikini," she teased. He chuckled.

"Guilty, but you're gorgeous so who can blame me?" he quipped, as he kissed her neck. She giggled.

"Come on handsome, let's go clean up and leave for Phaedos," Tori said, as she hopped on his back and he took off toward the compound.

Ranger Ops

After Tori and Hunter left for Phaedos with Zedd, Jason gathered the team he was taking to Washington with him in the Ops room. Shane and Blake were dressed in their respective Ninja uniforms, while the others had dressed in black as Jason had instructed. Each of them added their own small touches of their respective color and Jason faced them. In addition to Shane and Blake, whose Ninja streaking would come in handy, he had chosen Adam and Trent for camouflage, Tommy who had the power of invisibility like himself, and Tanya and Kat for their respective powers of phasing and shielding. Cam would be monitoring them, while Billy, Carly, and Hayley would be working on trying to find information on the whereabouts of their missing friends.

"Okay…everyone know their assignments?" Jason asked. They all nodded and he turned to Trini.

"Be careful," she pleaded. He smiled.

"I'll be fine, they won't even see me," he replied, as he kissed her tenderly.

"Okay, we're ready Cam," Jason called. Cam initiated teleportation and they were swept away to the location they had designated would be a safe place to land in D.C.

Phaedos

Greetings were simple as they arrived on Phaedos and Tori found herself immersed in watching Hunter with his Uncle. Zedd was a very impressive swordsman and she had been told by Hunter that Dulcea was even more skilled. Now that she was with the mother of the man she loved though, she found questions floating around in her mind that she wanted to ask. It seemed Dulcea could already sense this.

"You can ask me anything, sweetheart," she said, giving her a kind smile. Tori looked a little embarrassed, but smiled.

"I was just wondering about Hunter's people. I mean, I love him more than anything and nothing is ever going to change that, and I know he feels the same about me, but will the Eltarians want him to return to them when they find out he's alive. He is Zordon's nephew," Tori said curiously. Dulcea smiled.

"They may want him to and there is no reason that two of you cannot visit Eltar someday, but I don't think you need to worry about Hunter wanting to be anywhere else except with you," Dulcea assured her and squeezed her hand.

"My son loves you and he may be Eltarian and Phaedosan, but he's still an Earthling. Earth is his home, because that's where you are, not to mention where his brother and friends are as well," Dulcea replied. Tori nodded gratefully.

"Thank you," Tori said. Dulcea nodded.

"Now, let's not let the boys have all the fun and do a little training ourselves," Dulcea suggested, as Tori got to her feet, ready to begin her own training session.

Washington D.C.

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

As Jason observed the scene in his invisible form, he saw much of what the news had been showing. People were lined up with signs, picketing as close to the White House as they could.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please stay back behind this line or you will force us to arrest you," an officer spoke into a megaphone over their yelling.

"You can't take away our right to protest!" a woman shouted.

"Why not? They've taken away our other rights!" a man shouted. Having seen enough, Jason unknowingly followed two secret service officers onto the White House lawn.

"The President could get rid of a lot of the protestors if he would just show his face," one of the officers said.

"It's not our place to question the President," the other replied.

"Then whose place is it? This is a democracy…or at least it was. That's what the people do. They question their government, especially when they don't like what's going on," the other protested. Jason had to agree. None of this made any sense.

"Stop talking like that!" the taller one hissed, as they stopped and faced each other. Jason couldn't see their eyes that were hidden by black sunglasses, but he could almost feel the fury in the gaze of the taller one.

"People that have questioned things since this began have disappeared. Even the Power Rangers are hiding!" he spat.

"Shouldn't that tell you that something is seriously wrong with our leadership? The people that are defending us are forced to hide when they're not fighting. It's like the President just changed overnight and let sector nine have free reign," the shorter one complained. Jason had heard enough and hurried ahead of them, whispering into his earpiece.

"Did you any of that?" he said.

"All of it…it confirms that the President is behind sector nine, but I still don't get it. No one changes like that overnight," Cam said.

"Unless he's like Gorbin and he's been planning this for years," Jason replied.

"It still doesn't explain how he knows so much about us," Tommy chimed in. Adam and Trent called in next, having found the security room.

"Trent and I are in the security room. Talk about high-tech. You and Billy would love this place," Adam's voice sounded.

"Do you see a system that looks like it might be the main system?" Cam questioned.

"Yeah, this thing looks like the motherboard. It's a serious kick-ass server room," Trent said.

"Just plug that flash drive I gave you. There will be time for my nerd envy later," Cam quipped. Adam plugged the drive into the port and then spoke again.

"It's downloading now," Adam said.

"Someone's coming," Trent hissed, as he and Adam used their camouflage to blend in with the walls, as two technicians came back from their break.

Meanwhile, Tommy unknowingly walked the halls of the White House, slowly making his way to the Oval office. Something had been off about this whole thing; he had felt that in his bones from the beginning. But now, as he inched closer to an office that only a few people ever saw the inside of, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Tommy Oliver didn't get that feeling unless he was in the presence of evil and his Ninjetti spirit was reacting to it. He felt the Falcon stirring in him and heard a voice behind the cracked door. He slipped inside and listened to President Miller speaking on the phone.

"General…I trust that your boys will have a better showing during the next battle?" the President asked, pausing as the person on the other end spoke. Tommy was positive that it was Gorbin.

"The rangers made them look like complete fools. I don't have to tell you how disappointed I am. The more people that rally around the rangers, the less control I have," the President argued, listening to the adamant voice on the other end.

"For your sake, I hope the zords that we've spent billions constructing had better do the job," the President stated.

"You let me worry about the Phoenix Ranger. I know exactly how to handle him," Miller said, as he hung up the phone and smirked. Tommy watched in pure confusion and horror, as the President's eyes flashed yellow briefly. He had seen that before more than once. He himself had been controlled by evil and he knew now that their worst fears were confirmed, though it only created more questions now.

"I know you're here, White Ranger. I can feel your power," Miller spoke. Tommy's eyes widened, as his uncloaked his presence and stood before the man that was parading as the President.

"Who the hell are you and where is the real President?" Tommy demanded. The man sat back in his chair and chuckled.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I am the real president…in the flesh," he responded.

"And you have about three seconds until the secret service comes in here, guns trained on your head. You might want to go out the window. That will make for spectacular news exclusive for all the reporters camped outside," the President said with a chuckle.

"White ranger attempts to assassinate President of the United States…I can see the scandal now," he hissed, as the secret service burst into the Oval Office, training their weapons on Tommy.

"Don't move ranger," the lead officer warned. In a flash of white, Tommy activated his morpher and leapt toward the window, bullets bouncing harmlessly off his armor. He turned his helmeted head toward the President with one last look.

"Give my regards to Rita and Zedd…sholak en a lish derry frix," he spoke in a language Tommy somehow knew was nothing practiced on Earth.

"Abort mission guys…get out of the White House," Tommy called, as he broke through the window, as GAMA guardians, armed with sophisticated weapons, descended upon him.

"A little back up would be great guys!" Tommy called, as he saw a flash of Navy and Red sprint onto the battlefield, followed by a Gold one.

"Ninja Storm!"

"Thunder Storm!"

"Ranger Form!" Shane and Blake called.

"Dino Thunder, Power up!" Jason called, joining them and activating his powers.

"Dammit…you guys need to get that flash drive and get out of there. The download is complete," Cam hissed into Adam's earpiece.

"I know…we're working on it," Adam whispered.

"Did you hear something?" one of the tech's asked.

"No, I think you're imaging things. Too much time spent with machines," the other tech quipped. Suddenly the door flew open, revealing two very attractive females, dressed to kill, one in a stunning pink dress and another in a green one, their stiletto heels clicking on the floor.

"I'm so sorry to bother you, but we're looking for the place where the interns are sent," Kat said in her best ditzy voice.

"Yeah…we're interns," Tanya said with a cutesy giggle she had to force, making Adam practically have to bite his tongue off to keep from laughing. It worked like a charm though, as the two slightly nerdy technicians were on their feet immediately and left to show the girls where they needed to go. Adam shook his head and snatched the flash drive from the computer terminal, as he and Trent slipped out. The girls appeared beside them, thanks to Tanya's phasing and Adam smiled at her.

"Great dress," he said, admiring his girlfriend.

"I can't believe Kat and I agreed to do the pretty, but idiot airhead bit for you jerks," Tanya grumbled.

"It worked though. We got the entire download," Trent replied.

"It better be worth it," Kat agreed.

"Trust me, I have a feeling that there is some pretty explosive information on this little flash drive now," Adam replied, as they hurried around the corner.

"Stop right there!" an officer called, as they gave chase, raising their weapons.

"Crap…" Trent said, as they started running. Bullets bounced off Kat's violet shield and they decided to take no more chances.

"Dino Thunder, Power up!"

"Ninjetti…The Frog!"

Flashes of white, green, violet, and black nearly blinded the officers, as four rangers now sprinted onto the White House lawn, joining their teammates.

"Anytime Cam…I'd really like to not have to go on the offensive with these guys," Shane said into his communicator.

"Yeah, that's just what they want…us chopping these guys up so they can show people that we're bad news," Blake agreed.

"Hang on…there's a lot of interference," Cam called.

"I got a lock…stand by," Cam called a few seconds later and they disappeared with a sweep of teleportation, reappearing in Ranger Ops seconds later. They cancelled their morph and Adam handed the flash drive to Cam.

"Perfect, we'll start going through the information and figure out what's going on," Cam said.

"I may know…or at least we will if you recorded my conversation with the President," Tommy said. Cam nodded.

"I did, but I don't recognize the language. Rita is on her way down though," Cam said. As he said that, Rita and the Mystics made their way down into Ninja Ops.

"What's so urgent?" she asked.

"Sorry to pull you away from your magic training, but you need to hear something," Tommy said, nodding to Cam, who played the excerpt of the conversation back.

"Give my regards to Rita and Zedd…sholak en a lish derry frix,"

Rita froze as she heard those words and all eyes were on her, as she visibly paled.

"Do you know what those words mean?" Jason asked.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold…and you wouldn't know the language, because it is only spoken in the M51 galaxy…" she said, stunning them all.

Phaedos

Hunter and Dulcea finished sparring, while Tori took her turn sparring with Zedd. He downed his water from his canteen, as she sat calmly beside him. She smiled, seeing the emotions on her son's face, as he watched his love move with a fluid grace she had not seen in a warrior since her long dead friend Dolphia of Aquitar.

"You love her," Dulcea stated. He nodded.

"More than anything…though to people that know us, we're the last couple anyone expected," Hunter replied.

"Love has a way of blindsiding us, but when we find it, we must hold onto it as tightly as we can, because we can never know when that love will be taken away," Duclea said sadly. Hunter squeezed her hand and she smiled gratefully.

"I'm going to find a way to free you from the curse so you can come home with us," Hunter promised.

"That would be nice sweetheart, but I don't want you to get your hopes up. There is a chance that there is no way to break the curse. I will be happy as long as you're happy," Dulcea replied.

"Well, Ivan Ooze aside, I am happy. Tori is the most amazing woman and I never imagined I would be so lucky," he admitted.

"Then you do plan to marry her someday?" Dulcea asked, watching her son shift uncomfortably.

"Yeah…I was even saving up to buy a ring before all this started," he admitted. She smiled and held her hand out, as something small appeared in her palm.

"This is the ring your father gave me when he asked me to marry him," Dulcea said, as she placed it in his hand. It was a beautiful clear diamond set in a silver band surrounded by an encrusted border of tiny garnets.

"It's beautiful mom…but I can't take this from you," Hunter protested.

"It is an enchanted ring that has been passed down in your father's family for many generations. It is passed on to the oldest son, who then gives it to his chosen mate," Dulcea explained.

"Enchanted?" Hunter asked.

"Imagine what you would like it to look like when you place it on Tori's finger," Dulcea instructed. Hunter looked at the ring and his eyes widened, as the diamond suddenly changed to a beautiful sapphire color, surrounded by two dolphins each with a ruby eye set on a silver gold band.

"The ring is modified to suit each couple's union," Dulcea explained.

"Mom…this is…thank you," Hunter said, nearly at a loss for words.

"Just don't wait too long to ask her. I've waited a very long time for grandchildren," Dulcea mentioned, as she kissed his forehead. Hunter rolled his eyes and pocketed the ring, as Zedd and Tori finished their spar and came to rest with them. Tori leaned down and kissed him tenderly, before taking his hand and pulling him up.

"Come on," she said. He smirked.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"We're going to check out the killer waves over on that ridge," she said, pointing to the nearby cliffs, as they walked off together, hand in hand. Zedd chuckled.

"Well, did you give it to him?" he asked. Dulcea nodded with a smile.

"Your Mom is an amazing women," Tori mentioned.

"She is, but so are you and I think she really likes you," Hunter replied.

"I hope so, because you mean everything to me," she said, as the waves crashed on the rocks below and the breeze blew her tousled her blonde locks. Hunter remembered the ring his mother had given him and he cupped her face in his hands.

"Trust me…you make me happy, which makes you her new favorite person," he assured her, as he kissed her passionately. They gazed deeply into each other's eyes and he knew in that instant that he wanted to ask her to marry him. But the sound of laser fire destroyed their bliss, as they saw a large blue ship, coming in very hot, with several smaller enemy ships firing on it. Tori gasped and Hunter pulled her down, as the blaster fire disrupted the ground beneath them.

"That's the Astro Megaship!" he heard his Uncle call.

"The Space rangers…they're going to crash," Tori said.

"Not if we can help it," he replied, as she nodded.

"Ninja Storm!"

"Phoenix Storm!"

"Ranger Form!" they called, as a flash of blue and crimson revealed their morphed forms. His Phoenix wings spread on his back and he grabbed her around the waist, as they soared after the ship in peril…