Apologies for the delay of this story. So many other stories and trying to figure out what to do with this chapter have not been easy. But hopefully, this will be worth the wait. Slight language warning. I own nothing but the OC, and please enjoy!

"Nick, V! Someone wants to talk to you in the back." Toby said, gesturing with his thumb to the office area. Nick looked at Vida up at the turntable, who returned his confused look with one of her own as she took off her headphones. Nick handed Xander the records he was sorting with a shrug and a smirk.

"Sorry. Gotta see what this is about." He said. Xander glared as he got up out of his chair. Both Nick and Vida went to the office and were greeted by not just one person, but two. The man was dressed like a SWAT police officer, but with a red hat. The second person was a young woman wearing all white clothes, blonde hair, and blue eyes. She was flipping through a record bin as the two walked in, and she looked up with a smile and a record in hand.

"I know this is going to sound cliché, but I am a sucker for Judas Priest." She said. Nick closed the door behind them.

"Do we know you?" Vida asked, blunt as ever. The girl put the record down, the smile also disappearing. She walked over to the door and locked it.

"This is Eric Myers. Silver Guardian and Quantum Time Force Ranger. Eric, meet Nick and Vida, Mystic Force Power Rangers." Eric shook hands.

"Always nice to meet another Red." He said. Nick smiled a little bit himself, feeling the charge of power.

"My name is Cynthia Nostros. I am from the future. Or, a possible future. That world and soon yours is in great danger. I cannot say Her name, because doing so would give her recognition, and can lead Her to me." Cynthia began to explain.

"The team of Rangers in my time were destroyed by Her. The only two survivors were their mentors. We have been trying to find a way to defeat her. And so far, we have not been successful."

"So why us?" Vida asked, leaning against a table with her arms crossed. Cynthia smiled a little.

"One reason is because you are all Power Rangers. I know this because I know history. You see, I am an Angel." Cynthia said. Nick held up a hand.

"Like, Heaven and God and stuff like that?" He asked. Cynthia chuckled.

"If you think I'm farfetched, wait until you meet Her. But yes, though you would probably call me a Fallen Angel, but that's a story for another day."

"The second reason I came to you two specifically, is because you have been in death's embrace." She said. Both Nick and Vida sucked in a breath, both feeling the same yet different emotions.

For Nick, it was an icy chill down his legs that would've collapsed him had he been standing up. The same chill that he felt, leaning against a cliff on some distant planet, Vida in his lap. He would often stay up long into the night, fearing the feeling of falling asleep, only to jerk awake at the last moment. Sometimes, he woke up and swore he couldn't feel his legs.

For Vida, it wasn't ice, but a fire on the skin of her stomach. A deep burning sensation that usually only came at odd times. Like Nick, she was afraid to go to sleep sometime, but it was because she feared she would not wake up again. Udonna had helped them by using spells to disconnect the emotions from the memoires but occasionally, the two would connect.

"This guy die, too?" Vida asked, a little more harshly due to her nerves.

"No, he has had contact with someone who had fought Her. And, the Time Force Rangers won't let me use their ship to time travel without a member of their team, closer to the time I'm recruiting from as a liability and a way to prevent a paradox." Cynthia said. There was a long pause before Nick spoke up.

"So, what kind of mission are we talking about? How dangerous does it have to be that your qualifications are Power Rangers, dying, and knowing the enemy?" He asked. Cynthia sighed.

"Because this mission is a suicide mission. The chances of your surviving are so low, they are on the right side of the decimal point. The only people who I can bring to this mission are those who do not fear death or know Her. I can't put innocent people in Her realm, that danger, not knowing what could be waiting for them." She said. Vida chuckled, but there was no humor.

"What makes you think that just because we died, means we aren't scared of dying again?" Vida asked with a bare growl.

"I know you are scared. But you also respect death. I need people who respect death for what it. Not this evil thing, but a part of life. I know about your nightmares, your panic attacks. But I also know about the work you and Nick do. You lead your team better, make more sound judgement calls, and most importantly, you live life with a new purpose. That's what I am looking for. You are scared, but you still accept death." Cynthia said. Both Vida and Nick looked at each other, a whole conversation going on between them with that single look. Vida sighed and looked at Cynthia.

"Let me say goodbye to my sister, at least." She said. Cynthia smiled and nodded.

"Of course." She said.

Later

Nick and Vida took turns giving out hugs and goodbyes outside of Rootwood, Vida having a hard time letting go of Madison and keeping her emotions in check. Nick walked up to Xander and Chip.

"Alright, I need someone responsible, mature, and able to lead this team while I'm gone." Nick said. Xander smiled.

"No problem, man. The team is in good hands." He said. Nick nodded.

"That's great to hear. Chip, you're in charge." He said. Chip smiled and began dancing around, saying stuff about Yellow being the leader. Xander gave Nick a look as the Red Ranger shrugged and hoisted his bag onto his shoulder, stepping onto the ship. Vida managed to pry herself from Madison and followed. Madison watched as the door closed and tried not to flinch when the door closed, and tried to shake the feeling of wrongness that came over her.