Author's Notes: This is the end… Well, of this story. As you probably know from my rather longer break in chapter posts, I am currently insanely busy. The truth is, I am finishing my dissertation this summer. By September, it needs to be done. In light of that, I'll need to take a break from fanfiction—a true hiatus—for a few months.

Please do not worry. I will continue the story. This is the end of Darker Shades, but I plan to continue with Brighter Paths, a story that will include the introduction of the White Ranger, the power transfer to Rocky, Adam, and Aisha, the return of Rita, the changeover to Ninja powers, the evil Katherine saga, and the Alien Rangers saga… along with some of the more memorable episodes along the way.

I will continue the story because, of course, I love the story and can't not write what's in my head, but I also continue the story because of you. On July 17, 2009, I published the first chapter of A Darker Shade of Green and called it "The Potential." I really had no idea what kind of potential it had. I just kept plugging along. Almost four years later, I have written three stories in the sequence, with 67 chapters, with over half a million words, with over 900 reviews, over 300 favorites, over 200 follows, and included in at least 15 communities. Darker Shades alone broke 500 reviews, and A Darker Shade of Green has almost broken 300 reviews.

I don't say this to brag. I don't feel I've done anything more than enjoy a few (okay, several) hours with my favorite teens with attitude, fulfilling my own melodramatic wishes and thinking far too hard about the mechanics of the Morphing Grid and galactic politics. No, I say this to show how much you've all supported and encouraged me. With your enthusiasm, your (occasional) nagging, your theories, your shouts of frustration… I may not get paid for my work like professional authors (and fanfic authors for Pretty Little Liars and Vampire Diaries, apparently), but I get something better: you guys. Even when I went in some pretty weird directions (okay, even I got sick of Greek gods), you all stuck with me, and I love you all a little for that.

So, as we're nearing the fourth anniversary of my first Power Rangers post, I just wanted to say… thank you to all my reviewers, my silent readers, the ones who've said they wish my stories were what the show had been… You're all amazing.

Okay, so now I'm getting maudlin. Let's end this thing. I hope you enjoy.

Reviewer thanks (and I seriously can't thank you all enough): brankel1 (Me, too.), Ghostwriter (This will be the last flip side for a while, but we'll flip in September.), PinkRangerV (Your questions about Tommy are fairly quickly answered… and I'm going to spend a bit of my spare time working on the blog. I'm planning to partially unveil it sometime this summer, and I'll put a link in my Author bio), alias093001 (I was sort of balancing "cop out" with "not cop out"…), CalcBoy91 (Quiet expletives can be particularly expressive.), KLR (I always look forward to your thorough reviews. I actually have a beta reader, but that shouldn't stop you from making an account. For one, I always want to PM responses to your reviews… but I can't.), gardien1204 (Not… drugging… per se. Just chemical to subtly alter his moods okay so yeah drugs.), RangerDude132 (I've actually watched Dino Thunder, and I tried to watch Megaforce. I enjoyed Dino Thunder, though there were a few things that disappointed me, but it's worlds above Megaforce. I stopped around the fifth episode when I realized they weren't bothering to set up any sort of story arc or investment in the characters. I have, however, been watching Linkara's History of Power Rangers series, so I've been getting the major events and characters, at least. I actually don't read any other Power Rangers fanfiction… just can't seem to get out of my own interpretations of the world and characters to accept someone else's… but when I do start reading, I'll give yours a read.), Curly (Tommy isn't the White Ranger now. The dimension-hopping bleached his clothes white… which, admittedly, was me making a sly reference.), jwstahle (Hmm…), Berserker Nightwitch (You'll get a bit of our freedom fighters in this chapter…), manley2469 (Just one left.), mfmxxx (Who says it's the end of Tommy/Kim?), JapanRules555 (I have, really. Jason's been a huge part of this series.), falcon242 (Zedd is more sentient, as the monsters and Putties they "kill" are made of clay or animated objects. They're artificial constructs, with personalities and abilities programmed in, but they're not sentient beings. People like Zedd, Rita, Goldar, Finster, Squatt, Babboo, Scorpina, and all the other major villains… they're sentient beings who have used magic and technology to enhance their abilities. They're evil, but they're still people. We've seen the Rangers reluctant to kill any of the sentient villains before: Jason felt guilt over torturing Goldar in the Green Candle story, Tommy couldn't kill Rita after his father died… And so on. They also know that Zedd's death will escalate the war in their section of space—any subsequent villains will be out for blood—and his death would also create a power vacuum. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't, really.), Garry (Well… I get my ideas primarily from a 90s TV show that I watched when I was a kid. Okay, I'm being facetious. But, seriously, I watch the old TV show and reinterpret it with things I like: angst and drama, more adult humor, and character growth.), bub23453 (Yeah, and you weren't waiting for 499 to pop up so you could take 500…), and Psycho Tangerine (I think you'll be a bit more pleased with where I'm taking Tommy from here. With great power comes great responsibility… and a whole crapload of consequences. I also tried to balance the whole reset thing: Angel Grove is never affected… but certain people are. And that in itself brings with it a whole heap of problems…).

Darker Shades

Book 6: Shadows in the Cave

Chapter 34: Recovery

Angel Grove was back to normal. They'd spent the morning just trying to cope with that truth. Angel Grove... the world... was back to normal.

The buildings were whole, the damage undone, no graves in the back of the high school, and the memories gone. There was no evidence that the gods had ever been there, and the police no longer even had the ransom letter for Kevin. Frank and Kevin had briefly teleported down to put in an appearance for the police, explaining that Kevin had gotten homesick and left his friend's house (Kevin chafed at that explanation: kidnapped by Greek gods and space aliens was much cooler).

At the moment, two weeks ago, when they were supposed to have fought Ares and Aphrodite, they were monitoring a peaceful Angel Grove from the Viewing Globe.

Two weeks ago... was today. It was difficult to grasp.

Perhaps unwilling to rejoin a world that had forgotten, they'd all decided to have one last meal in the Command Center before going home. Zordon had looked taken aback. He hadn't quite gotten used to the Command Center being so domesticated. But he remained quiet. He seemed preoccupied, and perhaps impatient to talk to the Power Rangers on their own.

Most went to the kitchen to cook, Billy theorizing that food bought during the two weeks should not exist. Jason used the opportunity to slip away and head to his office. The door slid open, but before he could enter, he heard,

"So, this is where you've been hiding out."

Zack and Trini were coming up the hallway. They'd disappeared separately a while back. No one had commented, but now they were emerging from a dark corridor with plenty of empty rooms, and they were holding hands.

Jason raised his eyebrows and looked pointedly at their hands. "Speaking of hiding out..."

"Mind your own business," Trini said, smirking. She detached from Zack and pushed past Jason into his office. "I didn't realize you had a room like this."

"I didn't either," Jason said. "Zordon must not have thought it was important."

"Yeah, well, Zordon hides a lot from us," Zack commented.

There was an uncomfortable silence between the three of them. The euphoria of the past few hours was slowly fading, and the relief of no longer fighting settled into an unease with the future.

"It makes sense that he would stay away," said Jason. "It gave us time to save the world."

"I'm not sure that's entirely what Zack meant," Trini said, running her hands over the computer controls.

Jason sighed and sat down. He felt the full two weeks of stress and fear settle on his shoulders. Everything ached.

"Just because Tommy did the impossible with Zordon's energy doesn't meant that Zordon could have done it," Jason said slowly. He sighed again. "Besides… everything's back to normal now."

One look between the three of them gave lie to his words. While the past two weeks had indeed been erased, nothing was really back to normal. Not for them.

Trini was surveying Jason's information from his search for Tommy. "Speaking of keeping secrets… You know, you could have told us you were looking for Tommy."

"I had to keep everyone on task," Jason said. "And there was really nothing for me to do other than this." He looked down. "I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up. Not if I was wrong."

"I get that," Zack said. "And you get that, too, Trini. You're dancing around the issue."

"The issue?" Jason knew from their shared looks that they had done more than make out in that back room. They had come to Jason with something in mind.

"The clues," Trini said.

Of course. "You mean… leaving. Us leaving," Jason said.

"You think we'd forgotten all about that? Because I know you haven't, Jas," Zack said.

"I haven't forgotten," Jason said. "But… It's not like we can. Nothing's changed. Everything's gotten worse, as far as that goes."

The other two looked unconvinced.

"It's not like evil's going to take a vacation," Jason continued. "Tommy no longer has power, both his green powers and those weird powers he was using, so we're down to five Rangers, and if we leave, the ones that are left are… well…" Jason coughed, unsure of how to go on.

Zack grinned. "Okay… let's take those one by one. First… yeah, Zedd's going to be pissed when he recovers, but I don't think he's going to be at his best for at least a few weeks. I mean, his defeat was pretty damn devastating, even before Tommy zapped him with that weird power."

"And, yes, we're down to five Rangers," Trini continued. "We've done that before. We're crippled without Tommy… but not incapacitated."

"And as for Billy and Kimberly," Zack said, "Billy's recovered a lot while you weren't paying attention. He's not the same wreck that he was two weeks ago. He saved Angel Grove from the Pacific Ocean. And Kim… she'll recover. No matter what life throws at her, she just gets stronger. All three of them—Tommy, Billy, Kimberly—they've all gone through hell, they've all changed… but that's what makes them ideal Power Rangers, power or no power."

Jason's eyes widened. "That's why you want to leave. I wondered…"

Zack looked taken aback, but Trini gave a small smile. "I wasn't going to say it," she said.

"What do you mean?" Zack said.

Jason got up from his chair and closed the door, glancing down the hallway to make sure no one was listening in. "It's just… you're right. All three of them have been evil. All three of them have harnessed power way beyond our power coins. All of them… have changed. Hell, Tommy just erased two weeks of time. What human can do that? What human…should do that?"

"He saved everyone…" Zack started.

"I'm not denying that," Jason said quickly. "What I am saying is that… and I think you're thinking the same thing, Zack… that we'll go down those paths. We'll change, too. We'll transform into something that we may not recognize. It's Trini's clue. Nosce te ipsum. Know yourself. We've already started to change…"

Zack was looking down. "I… that arrow. The poison that almost killed me. I wasn't worried about dying. I was worried that it would… I dunno… drive me crazy or something."

"And we all know how I almost lost myself," Trini smiled bitterly. "I was violent. I almost killed Kimberly. What if I keep turning more and more violent? I… I can't keep going like this."

"But do we really have a choice?" Jason asked. "I mean, if not us, then…"

"If there's something that these past two weeks have taught me," Zack interrupted, "it's that we're not the only heroes in the world… or even in Angel Grove. I mean, if Bulk and Skull can turn into resistance fighters, there's heroes who can take our place."

Jason sighed and sank into his chair. "I guess we should talk to Zordon. I just hope he'll understand."

"I think he will," Trini said. "I mean, he's been listening in to our conversation this entire time."

Jason and Zack looked up in surprise, possibly expecting to see Zordon's head in the room with them. Instead, Trini pointed to a flashing light.

"We should talk," Jason said, "after we get the Command Center a little emptier of prying ears. Come on… I'm starving."

The three started filing out of the room, Jason staying behind to cut power. Zack laughed as they left. "Let's just hope we can find better replacements than Bulk and Skull."

Tommy and Kimberly walked slowly from the Zord hangar. There was still awkwardness there, but they were both unwilling to let each other go. The palms of their hands were sweating, but they just increased the pressure of their clasped hands.

They heard a crash, looked at each other in surprise, and ran into the lab that had served as Zack's hospital room for the past two weeks. Billy was gathering a few components from a storage locker, and the box had overbalanced. He was now frowning at a dented piece of machinery, but he smiled when they entered.

"Just gathering a few things to update the security on our houses. Now that our parents know, I won't have to hide everything quite as obsessively, but recent events have shown our security to be woefully inadequate."

"One thing thankfully not my fault," Kimberly said. She sounded like she was trying to sound normal. "Zedd was peeking at us long before he turned me evil."

"No doubt," Billy said. He smiled. "And, don't worry. I'm reporting all my upgrades to Zordon… or I will, anyway."

"I guess things aren't entirely back to normal," Tommy said after an awkward pause.

"Not sure they could be, despite your best efforts," said Billy. "But things are better." He started gathering up some machinery, tossing aside the dented one. "Have you talked to Zordon yet?"

Tommy and Kimberly glanced at each other, trying to decide which of them he meant. Tommy decided to take it, though. "Waiting for everyone to go home. Also waiting for those results from the test Alpha ran on me when he thought I wasn't paying attention."

"It has to be done," Billy said. "I mean, you wielded power over time and space. That's not exactly something we can shrug off."

Tommy started to shrug, caught himself, and grinned. "I have a feeling we won't have to worry about that anymore. I mean, I may have used it, but the power was never mine anyway. I was just... borrowing things from people way more talented and powerful than I am."

"Isn't that what we all do?" Kimberly said. She was trying to make her voice light, but her voice tightened at the end. She looked away, knowing they'd both noticed.

"Not me anymore," Tommy said. "No power coin, no... other... powers. Completely a civilian now."

"Would be nice, wouldn't it..." Kimberly said slowly, half to herself.

Tommy and Billy exchanged uncomfortable glances.

The three damaged ones, Tommy considered. Sure, Jason, Trini, and Zack had suffered. They'd had their scars, physical and mental. But it was really himself, Kimberly, and Billy who had changed the most: gone evil, lost powers, died, made horrible mistakes... And yet they were still living. They kept going. They had to.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Sylvia peeked around the corner. "People who save the world don't have to cook, but they have to come eat before it gets cold."

"You know we save the world on a regular basis," Tommy joked.

"Does that mean we never have to cook?" Billy said.

"Don't press your luck, mister," Sylvia said, grabbing Billy's arm and leading him down the hallway.

Tommy and Kimberly glanced at each other, shrugged, and followed, still hand in hand.

The last meal was done. There had been laughing-relieved, slightly wild laughter-and only a few uncomfortable silences. Alpha had joined in for the first time, and though he didn't eat food, he took the time to say goodbye to the Rangers' families, who would be going home, and probably never come back to the Command Center unless there was a reason. And, given the circumstances of their first journey to the Command Center, everyone hoped there wouldn't be a reason.

Slowly, the party broke up. The Taylors left first, Zack with them, wanting to get all of Zack's brothers on a normal schedule. The youngest, Jamie, had started to regard the Command Center as home and cried loudly when he realized they were leaving.

"When are we going to...?" Zack muttered at Jason before he left.

"I'll let you know," Jason said in a low voice.

Kimberly and her family were the next to leave, followed quickly by the Scotts and the Kwans. Finally, it was just Billy, Tommy, and Sylvia left.

Sylvia pried Billy away from a console. "All that can wait until tomorrow. I think we all need two weeks of sleep... and we might need to still clean up from that party that you think I don't know about, if the last two weeks have really been erased."

Billy's eye twitched, but he smiled anyway. That party wasn't exactly one of his best memories... especially since he'd never actually gotten to attend.

"I'll be right down," Tommy said.

Sylvia was about to protest, but Billy held her back. He knew Tommy had been waiting for this opportunity.

After Sylvia disappeared, Zordon actually seemed to relax.

"You really don't like parents up here," Tommy grinned. "Why not?"

Zordon cleared his throat... and now Tommy knew he actually had a throat to clear. Now that he'd seen Zordon in the flesh, he could see past the mask Zordon put on, though that didn't mean he could guess everything that was going on in Zordon's head. "I thought you wanted to talk about your test results."

"I do," Tommy said, deciding to let Zordon divert his attention. "First, though, you'll be happy to know Goldar fell for it. He really thought I gave up my power coin like that." Tommy laughed. "Like I'd be crazy enough to throw it into some random dimension." Tommy swallowed, the laughter dying in his throat. "Where is it now?"

"I have put it somewhere safe," said Zordon. "It will not be useful... not for a long time. Our experiments with it, as well as Rita's influence, have depleted its power."

Tommy smiled bitterly. "Know how it feels."

Zordon closed his eyes. "As for that, you are completely free of Eltarian energy, just as you suspected. You used it all in that space-time manipulation... thank goodness."

"Look," Tommy began, "I know I went against your orders... pretty completely. I know I took a huge risk..."

"Too much of a risk," Zordon cut him off. "You had an inkling of how to use the power from your training with Rita, your experience with the Morphing Grid, and your time dimension-hopping, but you had no way of knowing if you could control it."

"But I did control it," Tommy said. He was uncomfortably aware that Zordon was making a great deal of sense.

"Through luck," Zordon acknowledged. "It might have gone the other way. You have no idea what kind of forces you were playing with... the power..."

"And that's why you haven't done what I did?" Tommy challenged. "You're afraid?"

"Exactly," Zordon said. "I've always known I had the power... and I admit, I used it irresponsibly in my youth. But no longer."

Tommy looked away. "I'm sorry. I... I know you're right. But... I had to try. No... I'm sorry, Zordon, I knew I was going to succeed. I just knew it. I'm sorry you disagree with me."

Zordon still looked stern, but he was looking softer around the edges now. "It's done now, of course. Not much for us to do except handle the damage."

Tommy grinned. "Good thing about a time erase... no damage. So... unless you need me for anything else?"

Zordon frowned. "No... that will be all. Rest now."

Tommy waved and teleported out.

"No damage, is there?" Zordon said. "Alpha, are you finished analyzing the full medical scan on Tommy?"

"Not yet, Zordon," Alpha said. "There are still some anomalies in his brain scan that I'm running through some tests."

"Let me know when you find anything," said Zordon. "In the meantime, it's best to keep this from the others, including Tommy, until we know more."

"Yes, Zordon," Alpha said. The robot started to contact Jason's sister Kristen, who'd been assisting him with data analysis, but he remembered she was gone. He'd have to adapt his subroutines, he reflected. The Command Center felt rather empty.

Goldar stood in Lord Zedd's bedchamber. He frowned. No doubt about it, it was really creepy in there. Something about the lush red bed hangings right next to the medical equipment. The throne room, even with its unsettling connection to Lord Zedd's mind, was much less creepy.

Lord Zedd was a creepy guy. But... there were worse options. Too many of them. And that's what this was all about.

Goldar heard a knock on the door. He was surprised to see Finster standing there, looking a little shellshocked.

"So, those energy readings you were so panicked about?" Goldar began.

"Can you explain why Earth has gone two weeks into the past?" Finster said.

Goldar gave one short laugh. "Looks like the kid did it."

Finster looked aghast. "You mean Tommy did all that? That... that was the plan?"

Goldar shrugged. "I didn't think he could do it, but I was willing to let him try, as long as he didn't get in my way or blow up the universe or something."

Finster was still shaking his head slowly. "I can't imagine what those humans will think once they realize it's still two weeks in the rest of the universe. The entire solar system was effected, but that doesn't mean the rest of the stars will be in the same place."

"The humans will notice, at least the ones who notice the stars at all," Goldar said. "It will get on the news, they'll debate and study, give the incident a fancy name, and forget it. Never once thinking it was because a teenage boy had the power of the gods for a few minutes."

That got Finster smiling. "And what about him?" He nodded toward Lord Zedd.

As if on cue, Lord Zedd stirred.

"Leave," Goldar said quietly. "Monitor the room from your lab, and be ready to teleport out with Squatt and Babboo if it looks like things are going horribly wrong."

There was a glint in Finster's eye as he left, and Goldar knew he was questioning the definition of "horribly wrong" when dealing with a horror like Zedd.

Goldar waited until Zedd started to move his arms around, until he could gain his bearings. Goldar didn't want to startle him. Just to... persuade him.

"Wh..." Lord Zedd grunted. He looked like he was trying to move, but he was fairly pinned down by his life support equipment, and possibly too weak and hurt to do anything about it.

"Welcome back, Lord Zedd," Goldar said, making his words precise and strong. He couldn't show fear.

"What has been done to me?" Lord Zedd growled, struggling weakly against his medical restraints.

"What has been done to you..." Goldar grinned. It looked like this dark lord reacted just like everyone else when hurt and confused. "You were hurt rather badly in your battle against the Power Rangers. What has been done to you is healing. Finster and I hooked you up to your medical equipment. There were a few close calls, but you pulled through alright. You might even be able to sit up by tomorrow."

What he didn't say was, mixed in with Zedd's usual medicine, were sedatives and a few uppers. It was important to put him in the proper mood at this crucial stage.

To Goldar's surprise, Zedd was speechless. He'd expected Zedd to yell about his disastrous battle with the Rangers, or to swear vengeance against Tommy... but Zedd said nothing. He merely laid still. Goldar waited, unsure of how to proceed.

"Wh... why?" Lord Zedd said finally.

The question was clear, though Zedd would have never articulated it fully. Why had Goldar and Finster, who had suffered nothing but abuse and the threat of death under Zedd's reign, who had ever interest in getting out from under his control... why had they saved him?

Good. It was best to get to the important point while Zedd was still conscious.

"Because you are our lord," Goldar said.

Zedd snorted, and Goldar knew he had missed the point.

"You are mistaken, Lord Zedd," Goldar said. "I'm not saying that we're so brainwashed or mindlessly loyal that we will follow anyone who claims mastery over us. We are not slaves, neither are we Putties. That's something you haven't understood, and you will understand, Lord Zedd."

"You dare..."

"You're not listening, but you will listen," Goldar said. He moved closer to the bed, making sure Lord Zedd could see him. Goldar towered over the helpless form. The message was obvious. If Goldar so chose, he could kill Lord Zedd. It might mean his life-Zedd would put up a fight, of course-but he could do it. Goldar let that message sink in.

"There's a reason Rita Repulsa hired us. There's a reason lords hire minions. You need us. You need me for my military expertise and fighting prowess. You can make mindless, pre-programmed monsters, but you cannot create what I am. You need Finster. He may be loyal to Rita, but he is at the moment willing to serve you as one of the most brilliant scientists in the known galaxy. You even need Squatt and Babboo... not as janitors to terrorize, but as scientists in their own right. And... you need us to fight for you. To give your title meaning.

"At the same time, you have a duty to us. To be our lord. To use our talents and treat us as ones who have tied our fate to yours. As beings worthy of responsibility and respect according to our very real merit. There's a reason your plan failed: you underestimated people. You tried to rule by fear, thus breeding contempt. I'm not saying you have to gain our..." Goldar couldn't say the word. He could say without hesitation that Rita ruled through love, and that he bore love for his former mistress. But that was in the past. Goldar had come to terms with it. "But you must rule with mutual respect."

"How can you lecture me on how to..."

"You don't have a choice," Goldar interrupted again. He knew that Zedd wouldn't stay conscious much longer, so he had to hammer his point in soon. "That's how the universe works. That's how things in the Alliance of Evil work. You be our lord, we'll be your minions, and we won't bandy about your devastating failure. I'm sure plenty of people would be interested in taking up the fight against Zordon. I've heard the Machine Empire was beginning to build power nearby, and Master Vile might be interested in what you did to his only daughter..."

Goldar knew he had made his point when Zedd grew very still. He'd begun with noble intentions... but he knew it would come down to blackmail.

And Zedd, of course, would know the other side of this. No one wanted the Machine Empire in this district. No one wanted Master Vile active again in this galaxy. It would cause horrible upheavals, an acceleration of the war, and people like Lord Zedd and Goldar would get themselves killed or lost in the shuffle.

It was better the devil you know than the devil who you know is far worse, or however that earth phrase went.

Goldar left the room, left Lord Zedd to his thoughts... and felt easy for the first time in months.

The high school was still standing. It hadn't blown up.

Kimberly wandered the grounds of the high school, alone. She kicked at the ground and wrapped her arms around herself, even though it was far from cold. The air seemed to echo in the stillness around her.

The day before it had been a refugee camp... a haven for those who had refused to serve the gods. It had also been a graveyard, final resting place of those who had died from illness and injuries.

She stared at the plot where she knew the graveyard had to have been. The ground was smooth and unbroken, the people alive now. She'd had to make sure...

She sank onto a bench, a sob catching in her throat, quickly stifled. She didn't want to break the stillness. She didn't want to cry again. She felt like her tears were all dried out, and now she was left empty.

She was so grateful that the death and destruction had been erased, that all the pain she had caused had been swept away. And yet... she felt a little cheated out of remorse. Out of paying for all she had done. No one remembered what had happened, how she had almost destroyed the world, with her master...

Her lip curled at the thought. She felt at her sickest when she thought about her time with Lord Zedd, how she had opened up to him like that. Her only comfort was they had never gone further than that kiss...

Her stomach heaved, and she ran for a bush to throw up. She hadn't eaten much for lunch, but now it was gone. Sweating and eyes streaming, she shakily made her way back to the bench, glad that no one was around to see her. She didn't want to have to explain to anyone how she was feeling.

She knew her parents wanted her home. She'd gone home with them at first, but then it had been too much. Too many careful, questioning glances, too many offers of food. And then silence. She hadn't bothered to explain when she left. Her parents didn't stop her, perhaps thinking of the last time they'd tried.

An angry yell rent the air, and Kimberly jumped up. Had it started again? Already? Her body tensed, even as her mind froze in dread.

Mr. Kaplan rounded the corner, and Kimberly relaxed. No monsters. No gods. Just the normal type of terror: an enraged principal.

"What are you...?!" Mr. Kaplan glared at Kimberly, and Kimberly wondered if perhaps the memory wipe hadn't taken care of everything.

Mr. Kaplan looked Kimberly over, seeming to finally register who it was. "I'm sorry, Miss Hart. Of course it wasn't you. You would never do something as heinous and disrespectful as..."

Throw up in the bushes? Kimberly thought, and was surprised to feel her mouth curl up. "What's wrong, Mr. Kaplan?" She was also surprised to hear her voice sound so normal.

Mr. Kaplan sighed and dropped slightly. "Some prospective students are coming to tour the campus. I was up her to meet them, when I saw..." He gestured helplessly at the side of the building.

Fearing evidence of the lost two weeks, Kimberly actually gave a short laugh when she saw what was really bothering Mr. Kaplan: an entire wall filled with graffiti.

"I'm glad you find this so amusing, Miss Hart," Mr. Kaplan said sternly. "I don't suppose you saw who did this? Why are you on campus on a Sunday anyway?"

Long practice at alibis brought the words to Kimberly's lips without hesitation. "I was just going for a walk, when I started feeling kind of sick. I just wanted to sit down for a bit... but I haven't seen anyone. I mean, it could have been last night, couldn't it?"

Mr. Kaplan sighed and nodded. "Well, as long as you're here, you wouldn't mind meeting with these students? They should be here in about fifteen minutes."

Kimberly couldn't think of a way to get out of it without sounding suspicious. "Sure, Mr. Kaplan. I'll be there in a few minutes.

"Thank you, Miss Hart," Mr. Kaplan said before turning toward the front of the school, muttering angrily to himself about school pride and vandals.

Kimberly smiled and waited for Mr. Kaplan to get out of sight and earshot. "He's gone. You might want to clear out before he comes looking for me."

There was a rustling in the bushes, blessedly not the ones she'd been sick in, and Skull came stumbling out with a sheepish grin. "How'd you know it was me?"

Kimberly rolled her eyes. "You've been doing the whole sleepwalk graffiti again. That's the same design you drew on the side of my house. You know, the time Frank chased after you with a rake?"

Skull didn't seem upset at the memory. "Thought I could clean it up before anyone noticed. It's a Sunday, and I don't need any more strikes on my record."

"I don't think Mr. Kaplan suspects you... any more than usual, I guess," Kimberly said.

She stared at Skull. Awkward, gum-chewing Skull, who had spent the last two weeks designing plastic weapons in the fight against the Putties. Who had been the first to truly stand up to her, and then the first to come to her aid. He'd known where to find her, had grabbed her hand, had tried to lead her to safety... and then when safety rejected her, he'd left safety to shield her against all harm.

Those two weeks were gone. It was almost cruel... but then somewhat kinder. He didn't have to life with the terror and scars life under siege had given all of them. He didn't have to remember her when she was at her worst. He could stay the same cheerful, indomitable Skull that she'd always known. Nothing had to change now.

"You okay, Kimberly?" Skull said, the grin sliding off his face. "You were looking at me really weird. And you were sick before..."

Kimberly's face burned. "It's nothing. Just... must be coming down with something. Didn't get much sleep last night. I thought a walk would help..."

"S'okay," he said. "I obviously got really weird sleep last night, too. Had these crazy dreams."

"You're not going to tell me about those dreams again, are you?" Kimberly said warningly.

"No!" Skull said, looking offended. "I mean, you were in them, but..." He glanced at the school, and for a second, for the briefest of flashes, Skull looked as he had been when he was fighting against the gods. As soon as it appeared, though, it was gone, and Skull grinned. "Gotta book before Kaplan catches me. Besides, I think Bulk has some new scheme cooked up."

"Not for the Skull-mobile," Kimberly said, grinning.

"I wish," Skull laughed. "Top secret, though. Only on a need to know basis."

"You're dying to tell me."

Skull opened his mouth, but then they both heard steps coming from the front of the school, and he turned and sprinted away.

"Miss Hart, our visitors are here," Mr. Kaplan said, just missing seeing Skull duck out of sight. "This is Jim Park, a teacher at Stone Canyon, his brother Adam Park, and his two friends Aisha Campbell and Rocky DeSantos. This is Kimberly Hart, one of our most active students."

It was like a sledgehammer had caught her in the stomach. Kimberly stood up, staring at the three who had been freedom fighters. She'd known they'd come from out of town and had been stuck in Angel Grove when the barrier went up, but she hadn't known the circumstances.

"Welcome to Angel Grove, Aisha... Rocky... Adam," she said, shaking each hand in turn. "Are you guys thinking of moving here?"

Adam eyed his brother and shrugged. He seemed uncomfortable with the whole situation. Rocky had his hands buried in his pockets, looking around at the grounds appraisingly. "Thought we might. Stone Canyon's closing down, so..."

"Rocky!" Aisha said, smacking his shoulder. "We're not supposed to even know that, much less blab it all over everywhere."

"Don't worry," Kimberly said. "Secret's safe with me. Say... Mr. Kaplan... do you mind if I show them around while you talk to Mr. Park?"

"Sounds like a good plan," Jim said, flashing a smile. He looked like an older, much-more-confident Adam, and Adam looked really uncomfortable next to him. "What do you think, Mr. Kaplan?"

"I don't see how much mischief they could get into," Mr. Kaplan said. "Besides, we do have a few things to talk about..." The two wandered off, deep in conversation.

"Good move," said Rocky. "Jim's after a job. He can work his magic on the principal without us hanging around. So..." he clapped his hands and rubbed them together. He was obviously used to taking charge. "Which identical classroom should we start with?"

"That's rude," Adam pointed out.

"But true," Kimberly said, laughing in spite of herself. "There's a juice bar a block away, and it's just about to open for Sunday night hours. I doubt you want to spend all that much time on a Sunday at school."

"Or at all," Rocky laughed. "No offense," he said, suddenly sheepish.

Aisha rolled her eyes. "Come on, before Rocky completely alienates the very first person we meet."

"Cool graffiti, by the way," Adam said quietly as they walked by. "Sort of cubist inspired. Is this some sort of progressive art project?"

Kimberly smirked. "Very extra-curricular, if you catch my drift."

"It's really good," Adam said, glancing back. "Good use of perspective. It doesn't look like much up close, but from where we are, it spells out a word."

Kimberly glanced back, and a wave of cold passed over her. Up close, it had just been a lot of shapes. From where she and the freedom-fighters-who-would-never-be were standing, though, the shapes spelled out Haven.

"When did you know?"

Zack choked a bit. Trini had waited until he had a huge bite of chocolate chip ice cream in his mouth, and he tried to swallow as quickly as he could. The ice cream shop was empty except for two slightly older girls, who looked morally offended by his not-too-graceful coughs and gulps.

"Um..."

"You don't have to answer right away," Trini said, smiling over her own orange sorbet. "I think I know when, anyway."

"Oh, do you?" Zack said. "You think you can pinpoint when I fell for you?"

Trini shrugged playfully. "It's only natural. Weeks spent in bed, with Dr. Trini there to take care of you..."

"You think this is some sort of Florence Nightingale thing?"

"That's when a nurse falls in love with a patient," Trini said. "Which is really odd, since that never actually happened to Florence Nightingale, and she should be more known for revolutionizing nursing and hygiene in patient care."

"So what's it called when a patient falls in love with his beautiful doctor?" Zack said, suddenly entranced by the way Trini was sculpting her sorbet with her spoon.

Trini grinned. "Stockholm syndrome?"

Zack laughed. "You think I fell for you that recently? You really haven't been paying attention."

Trini raised her eyebrows. "Then when?"

Zack turned serious. "You really want to know?"

Trini nodded, also serious.

Zack looked away slightly, remembering. "It was that morning before Power Rangers Day. When we were picking up trash in the park."

Trini looked surprised. "What?... I mean... Why?"

Zack smiled. "I'd been feeling pretty messed up. I mean, all the crap that had been happening ever since the Green Ranger, and the Island of Illusion, and then when Tommy left and all of our other friends decided to check out completely... I thought no one noticed what I was going through. How I had to lead the team but then be shot down by Jason whenever he took a mind. But I always played it off, acted like I didn't care. But you noticed. You were going through some of the same stuff... but you noticed. And cared." He looked away. "No one really worries about me." He started trying to eat the fast-melting ice cream. "So, when was it for you?"

This time Trini looked down at her ice cream. "I'm not quite sure. There was something when we were at the Island of Illusions, when you kept me from falling from that cliff."

"But that was an illusion. You were on solid ground," Zack said.

"And you reminded me of that," said Trini. She looked up. "But we were so distracted. I guess... I've always found a way to be distracted. I use that as an excuse."

She'd laid her hand on the table, and Zack caught it. "I guess I'll have to find a way to keep your attention," he said, half-jokingly.

Trini smiled. "I'm sure you'll think of something."

Billy shook his hand as the circuit spark, the minor burn more annoying than painful.

"Billy, don't burn yourself."

He gritted his teeth at his mother's worry. "It's fine. Just... having to deal with a little more power than this equipment can handle." He sighed and pressed his communicator. "Alpha, could you send down some of those heavy-duty power relays? These just won't be sufficient."

"Sure thing, Billy," the reply came through. "They'll appear on the coffee table, Sylvia."

"Thank you, Mr. Alpha!" Sylvia shouted unnecessarily.

Billy smiled and shook his head. "I think he misses you all."

"The Command Center must feel rather lonely with him all by himself," Sylvia said.

"He's got Zordon. And, he's a robot," Billy reminded himself.

"Don't you start that," Sylvia said. "It's very easy to be dismissive about what you don't fully understand."

"Yes, mom."

Sylvia sat down on the living room chair, resigned to the fact that she could do nothing to help her son. "How can you be sure this security system will keep that Lord Zedd character from spying on us?"

"I'm using a few concepts a glanced at while I was battling Hephaestus," Billy answered, knowing he was giving a non-answer. "He was able to keep Zedd out."

"He also had the power of Demetrius and her shielding over the high school for help."

"And I'm incorporating the data from the power readings we've collected since Zedd came into power. This should keep him out. Zordon came up with some tests for it. If it works out, I'll install the new security system at every other house... starting with Kimberly's, I think."

The unspoken implication was to protect Kimberly from any revenge attacks... or any creepy spying, given the interesting direction their relationship had seemed to take.

"Dr. Taylor called earlier asking about the security system," Sylvia said. "Of course, she's got all those boys to worry about."

Billy smiled. "Okay, I understand the issue you're dancing around. No, Zordon has said he will not insist on any memory wipes for anyone." Billy looked away from his work to his mother. "You don't have to worry about it."

"I hope not," Sylvia said uncertainly. "It's certainly strange that Zordon wanted us kept in the dark right from the beginning. It's much easier now that we all know." She laughed slightly. "Now I know where you all run off to. I only wish..."

She stopped. Billy kept on with his work, not particularly paying attention, wondering when Alpha would teleport down the equipment he needed, when...

"John knew, didn't he?" Sylvia said.

Billy froze, work forgotten. He turned to face his mother, knowing that his expression was giving everything away.

"I'm right," Sylvia said quietly, her hands clasping and unclasping in front of her. "He knew about both you and Tommy. I... There were a few things that didn't make sense, but that makes sense. When... um... when did you tell him?"

Billy left his work and crossed the living room to his mother, who was near tears. "I didn't tell him. He just..."

"Found out on his own?" Sylvia supplied, her voice a little strangled.

"Listened at doors. When we shared a room at the hospital."

The tears were flowing more freely. "That early?"

Billy sighed and looked down. He had no idea how to make his mother feel better... but he figured she wanted the truth, and he was at last allowed to give it to her. "After I left the hospital, he told me. He had overheard me and Trini talking. He... he wanted to know what had happened to Tommy, and I told him. He asked me to save his son," Billy finished, his own voice strained.

"It would have been easier for him to know... I know that," Sylvia said, her arm reassuringly on Billy's arm. "He had to know. It's just... there was this big secret between us, and now we'll never be able to talk about it. He knew exactly why we were attacked and kidnapped at our wedding, and he wasn't even allowed to share that with me right before..."

"I'm sorry..." Billy said, not sure what else to say.

Sylvia visibly controlled herself. "It's just... no more secrets, please. And you can tell Zordon that. My life has been filled with secrets I wasn't even aware of, and it kept me at arm's length with all of my family. I'm not saying you have to share every detail, or discuss battle plans over dinner... but I get to know the big stuff, okay?"

"Yes," Billy said firmly. He smiled. "I was honestly never more relieved when you found out. So... no more secrets."

Sylvia nodded, and then pushed at Billy. "Except from that horrid Lord Zedd. I'd like to be able to get dressed without thinking he could peek in at any time."

Billy smiled. Yes, it was better with them knowing.

"So, do you have any idea what this is about?"

Trini walked into the office. She had no idea why she'd been randomly called in from art class, and Zack's presence made it even more of a mystery.

She sat next to Zack. "No clue." She felt her face burn. "You don't think…" She lowered her voice, eyeing the secretary who was currently ignoring them. "You don't think he knows about us in the broom closet yesterday?"

"Not a chance," Zack whispered reassuringly. "Not unless he has spy cameras, and I don't even want to think about that. Hey… he's still looking for that graffiti artist. We could be possible witnesses… or even suspects, if you think about it."

Trini rolled her eyes. "Oh, Mr. Kaplan already knows who did that. He just can't prove it." She pondered. "We're both doing that science project, and we didn't turn in our progress report because we've been…"

"Distracted."

"Yes, distracted," Trini said with an embarrassed smile. "But it couldn't be about schoolwork. Maybe..."

Before she could continue her theory, Jason walked in, looking just as confused as they were.

Trini shrugged. "I'm stumped."

Jason sat next to Trini and tried to turn his back so the secretary couldn't see or hear. "Do you think he... remembered?" Jason said, a worried expression passing over his face.

That hadn't even occurred to Trini and Zack. What if Mr. Kaplan had been so affected by the two weeks that he actually remembered what everyone else had forgotten.

"Nah… He would have told us sooner," Zack said, looking like he was half convincing himself.

Before they could work themselves into a panic, Mr. Kaplan walked out. He smiled at the three. "Come in to my office… and don't look so worried. You're not in trouble. Come in."

They crowded in the tiny office, squeezing past the desk to sit in the three chairs that must have been brought in just for them.

Mr. Kaplan beamed at them when he finally sat at his desk. "Mr. Scott, Ms. Kwan, Mr. Taylor, I am delighted to inform you that all three of your applications to the International Youth Leadership Council have been approved. Congratulations."

Jason, Trini, and Zack sat in stunned silence. If they'd been expecting anything, it wasn't this.

Mr. Kaplan's smile faded a little as the silence stretched on. "I must say, I expected all three of you to be a little more excited. You can't have forgotten. It was a particularly rigorous application process, I've heard."

"Uh... yeah!" Zack said. He had actually forgotten all about it, given the recent distractions.

"I didn't think I'd been accepted when I didn't hear back," Trini said. "That was months ago."

Jason remained in stunned silence.

"The selection process took rather longer than anticipated," Mr. Kaplan said. "The committee had to choose from candidates all over the world… and it's quite unusual that three are picked from the same school. Your applications must have been quite good."

"Thank you," Jason said finally. "Mr. Kaplan… are you going to announce it or anything right away?"

Mr. Kaplan sighed. "I understand. I'll hold off on the announcement, and you can tell your friends on your own time… but we're going to have to tell people eventually. What with the increased monster attacks, the school needs the good publicity."

The three let themselves be congratulated a few more times by Mr. Kaplan, and they finally left the office. They walked slowly, not in a hurry to return to class.

"What are we going to tell the others?" said Trini. "I mean, everyone's still recovering from… and now we're leaving."

"We'll have to tell Zordon first," Jason said. "He'll at least be easier to tell, and we can have some backup. Maybe he can help us break it to the others."

"Doubt it," Zack said. "Sounds like one of those things that…" He cleared his throat and said with a deep voice, "You must choose your own path. You know," Zack continued with his normal voice, "what he says whenever he has no idea what to tell us?"

Sounds about right," Trini laughed.

"And, hey, if we can't think of anything to say, they'll figure it out eventually. It'll be pretty obvious something's up if they contact us and, hey, we're in Switzerland."

The three laughed and headed to class.

"What movie are you going to watch?" Sylvia asked. She pulled lipstick out of her purse and started to apply it before she headed out for the evening.

Billy crouched in front of the TV, fumbling with the VCR. Tommy and Kimberly sat together on the couch, bowl of popcorn between them. They'd rearrange after Sylvia left, and Billy would probably have to make a strategic retreat by the halfway mark of the movie.

"Tommy's never seen The Princess Bride," said Kimberly. "We're watching that."

"You've never seen..." Sylvia started.

"Yeah, yeah, everyone's had that reaction," Tommy said. "It's been the scandal of the day."

"Well, you kids have fun. I'll be home by about eleven," Sylvia said.

She was almost out the door when the room was filled with the sound of communicators beeping.

"How have I never noticed that before?" Sylvia said.

"Zordon, we read you," said Billy. Kimberly got up from the couch reluctantly.

"Rangers, report to the Command Center. One of Lord Zedd's monsters is attacking downtown Angel Grove," said Zordon.

"We'll be right there," said Billy, shutting off communications. "So much for movie night," he sighed.

"So much for our break between attacks," said Kimberly, a bit despondently. She was obviously dreading her return to battle.

"We'll do movie night some other time," said Tommy reassuringly. "Go be heroes. I'll be here when you get back."

"O... okay," Kimberly said, startled he wasn't coming with them.

They teleported away, leaving uncomfortable silence in their wake.

"I guess I won't be going out. They'll call monster curfew soon," said Sylvia, putting down her purse resignedly.

Tommy ate some popcorn absently. He was a bit unprepared to spend the evening alone with Sylvia. Yes, she seemed to have forgiven him, and she'd shown nothing but love and acceptance to him… but they hadn't been alone together ever since she'd found out he'd been the Green Rangers.

"Why aren't you going up, too?" said Sylvia.

Tommy was startled out of his thoughts. "Well… um… because I can't do anything. I don't have any powers, so… I'll just get in the way." He picked up the remote to watch TV when a newspaper smacked his head.

Tommy turned to face his attacker and saw Sylvia with a newspaper raised, prepared to deliver another attack. "What was that for?!"

"You're not staying here," Sylvia cooly informed him. "You get up there and help Mr. Alpha with the Command Center."

"I'm not good with computers..." Tommy started, but Sylvia smacked him again.

"You help them plan the battle, or come up with ideas, or, hell, borrow one of Kimberly's pompoms and cheer them on," Sylvia punctuated each suggestion with a smack from the newspaper, which Tommy couldn't avoid no matter how hard he tried. "Just make sure my son comes back alive."

"Okay, okay, I'm going!" Tommy said, teleporting out before another smack could land.

The five were happy and surprised when he showed up and joined them for Zordon's debriefing on the monster. Kimberly looked particularly relieved, and Tommy was suddenly grateful Sylvia had kept smacking him with the newspaper.

Sylvia, meanwhile, took the abandoned popcorn and movie to distract her from worrying.

"I hope you can see this, John," she said to the empty room. "Our boys are saving the world."

Jason, Zack, and Trini stood in the middle of the Command Center. Zordon stared at them, and Alpha fretted at the side.

They all knew what was happening, but the words still needed to be said.

"You said we could give our powers up at any time," Jason started. "We're taking you up on that offer."

"We've been accepted to a leadership organization with a year-long program that will take us out of the country," said Trini.

"We're really grateful for the opportunity you've given us," said Zack, "but now we can help people in other ways."

"So we respectfully resign our duties as Power Rangers, and we'll give the powers to whoever you pick," Jason finished.

The room was tense with silence.

Zordon finally spoke. "Did you rehearse that long?"

They were surprised to see one of his rare smiles, and they broke off in relieved laughter.

"So maybe we overprepared," said Trini. "We were nervous."

"You're the one who wrote the script," Zack said. "You made me memorize it."

"It didn't even sound like us," Jason said. "Who says 'respectfully resign?'"

"This from the people who kept asking me what we were going to say," said Trini.

Zordon joined in the laughter.

"I've known for a while what you were planning," said Zordon. "You didn't need to be nervous. You're all heroes no matter what you choose to do. I couldn't be prouder of you all."

That simple statement affected them greatly, and Zack had to look away and complain about dust in his eyes.

"Oh, ay-yi-yi," Apha said. "I'm so glad you finally said it. I've been on pins and needles waiting."

"I know you have people to replace us, and don't say we can't really be replaced, because you know what I mean," said Jason. "But what about the leadership role? Billy and Kimberly... don't want the job, and I'm not sure the team needs a new recruit as leader. Tommy could do it, but I don't think he'd be comfortable being the Red Ranger."

"I think you're right," said Zordon. "Tommy may not even be able to incorporate a power coin, given recent events. Don't be concerned. Just because you've waited this long to tell me doesn't mean I haven't been making plans. I can't quite share all the plans right now, but we'll need to do a lot to prepare for the power transfer."

"Can we even transfer the power? Don't we need a sword?" said Zack.

"We've had several recent breakthroughs on that field, and I believe we will find the sword soon," said Zordon. "We'll have all of May and June to find it, in any case."

"And someone else needs to make the serum," Trini said. "Alpha can't do it, because it needs to be someone with a power coin to make it work. I found that out when I tried to teach Jason's mother how to make it."

"You'll have time to train your replacement, and you may want to train more than one," Zordon said. "Billy would make the obvious choice, as he can learn the quickest, but I recommend Kimberly."

Trini knew why Zordon said that. It would give Kimberly something productive to do to help with her guilt, and it would help mend their relationship. She hoped Zordon knew what he was doing, because she wasn't looking forward to teaching Kimberly. Besides that moment in the Megazord, they hadn't really hung out. Or spoken to each other in any significant way.

"Just don't tell the others right now," said Jason. "We want to tell them in our own time."

"That is fine, but don't wait too long," Zordon said. "We need their help for our preparations."

"Hey, maybe Trini can figure out what to say," said Zack. "It won't be formal and awkward at all."

Trin glared at him. "For that, you get to write the final oral report of our science project," Trini said. "Let's see how you do at writing speeches."

"Great!" said Zack. "I know lots of science jokes I can use..."

"Come on," Jason said, relieved they had finally gotten this out of the way. "See you later, Zordon." They teleported out.

Zordon smiled at the space where the three Rangers had just disappeared. "You can come out now, Tommy," Zordon said.

Alpha jumped as Tommy appeared behind a console, looking white with shock. "I... I just... I didn't mean to..." He held up his math book as an explanation, having teleported up to retrieve it and then caught most of the conversation.

"Don't worry," said Zordon. "I won't tell about your eavesdropping if you act sufficiently surprised when they tell you the news."

Tommy's face darkened as he approached the center. "Jason's right. Even if I could take his powers, I don't want to. I mean... I want to help, and I'm honored, and wow... Jason said I was the obvious choice and that's the greatest thing anyone has ever said about me, but..."

"I understand," Zordon said. "When I said I had a plan, I didn't mean just the authorlized attendants of the meeting."

Tommy chose to ignore the comment."If you mean the Green power coin, it's drained," Tommy said. "You said it wouldn't recharge for another two decades."

"I stand by that," Zordon said. "I've been planning something different ever since the Green Candle. Alpha, pull up Project Light on the Viewing Globe."

Tommy looked at the globe and grew speechless as he watched the images.

"It's not something you can accept lightly," Zordon said. "It might not work, so even if you accept it, we need to keep it secret. We don't know what your recent experiences have done to complicate the project. And before we even try, you'll need to pass certain tests, both physical and mental, so you'll need rigorous training and even more rigorous study. This will be asking a lot from you, so if you need time to think it over..."

"I'll do it," Tommy said quietly, tearing his eyes off the images. "I don't need time to decide. I'll do it."

Zordon nodded. "Then let's begin."

Bodies covered the floor. Not victims of battle or slaughter, but of too much fun. Some bodies snored, others switched in dreams and hallucinations, some writhed together in the more orgiastic activities of the orgy... and where there was floor visible was covered in various fluids.

Scorpina wrinkled her nose and tried not to contribute to those fluids. She held up a light and kicked the few who dared complain about the brightness. If she's known she had to go through this hellhole, she would have tried to find another way. This was an all-night club… not in the sense that it was open all night, but in the sense that it was always night there, and always open. As such, it tended to attract the worst of the degenerates.

In this case, though, she needed one of those degenerates.

There was a flash of white, and she grinned. Striding forward, not entirely careful of stepping on anyone, she reached the prone figure she'd been searching for and kicked it.

"One more round, barkeep," the figure muttered.

"You're a long way away from any place that would throw you out," Scorpina said. "And you're not even that drunk, because that's physically impossible for you. Now get the hell up. We're getting out of here before I pass out from the stench."

Slowly the figure rose, bones clanking against each other. He grinned at Scorpina… but then, he didn't really have a choice.

"Rito Revolto," Scorpina greeted him. "Finally, you found a place to match your name."

"See you haven't lost your sting." Rito guffawed. "Sting! Get it?" He turned serious. "Now leave me to not die, already. I think I finally got a buzz."

"No dice," Scorpina said. Too impatient to talk some sense into him while they were standing there, she grabbed his clavicle and pulled him out forcibly, ignoring the yells of protest from both Rito and all the people they stepped on.

"The hell is this about?!" Rito asked furiously when they got to the empty street, just now bathed in early morning light.

"What do you think it's about, genius?" Scorpina said. "You're obviously far behind the times, or you wouldn't be wallowing in that filth I pulled you from. I need your help, and you're going to want to give me that help."

"How do you figure that?" Rito challenged.

Scorpina smirked. "You're going to help me save your sister."

To be continued in September with a new story, Brighter Paths.