Dedication

For everyone that has been following both series: the Streaks of Purple Saga and The Spectrum Force, thank you! I'm sure you won't be disappointed with this book either. I started work on this book when I was in high school as part of my creative writing class and decided (with the help of a friend and classmate)

to put it up on a website for fanfiction writers.

When my God Daughter started having trouble with reading (due to her Dyslexia)

, I remembered I wrote this series into short chapters. I then decided that it would be perfect for reluctant readers like my God Daughter to enjoy this series and that was when I decided to put it up here on BookRix! I hope that teenagers like my God Daughter enjoy this series as much as she has! Thank you all again!

Author's Note

The Power Rangers belong to Saban. Alexis Darling and her family are mine. The Spectrum Force and all related characters also belong to me. As far as timelines go, this story begins the Sunday after "Devil's Night."

In the Spectrum Force timeline, it begins a week after the end of "Matches."

Part One

Chapter One

The North Pole

A heavy blanket of white powder covered the hills and vales so completely it was nearly impossible to distinguish solid ground from frozen lake. The sky above was thickly overcast, creating a murky gray canvas that stretched into the endless distance.

No human eye could possibly see through the snowdrifts well enough to note the streak of crimson that stained the tundra, painting a trail toward a small opening in a nearby mountain.

The crimson trail ended at an ivory bear, freshly killed and still warm from when life ran through those veins. Now, the veins were dry, and a large chalice stood nearby, steam curling from its contents into the torch-lit cavern.

A delicate ash-gray finger dipped into the cup, swirling its contents before rising to greet a pair of bow-shaped lips.

"Ech," she murmured, "what a miserable planet! At least the mammals on Fesp had a decent texture to their blood."

Though there were many things the planet Fesp did not have. It did not have a social structure, as the Fespin armies had been crushed, leaving conquering Denebian Empire to do what it would. Like a pack of locusts, the invaders stripped planets clean of any useful technology or magic, and shipped captives off as slaves to the four-corners of the Empire.

Since victory had been secured, and the assimilation of their knowledge was well under way, there was little reason for the Empire's princess to remain. So she had been assigned another mission, from the lips of the emperor himself.

"Celea, I am sending you to the Outskirts, where Phaedra currently struggles against Spectra and a handful of indigenous creatures called Humans. She has demonstrated quite well that she is incapable of gaining a foothold on Earth, so you will see that this mission succeeds."

At first it seemed like an amusing project, to journey to the edge of the galaxy and wipe out a species incapable of even interstellar travel, yet the young princess quickly discovered the tedium of working with her mother after a humiliating defeat.

"I don't care what

Acheron 'ordains,' you are not needed here! I

will conquer Earth, and I

will lay the foundation for the Empire's expansion into this sector of the galaxy! I will tear Spectra limb from limb, and feed on the blood of her human pets myself!!

"

The humans that called themselves the Spectrum Force. Six individuals channeling the power of a White Stone. There were other Warriors of Light in the galaxy, and those who relied on White Stones were among the most formidable. The princess would have welcomed the opportunity to test her scythes against the combined might of this Spectrum Force, and typically her mother would have given her leave; but this battle had become personal for Empress Phaedra, and by no means would she allow her daughter the freedom of openly challenging these heroes.

Which left the princess frustrated and extremely bored, a very dangerous combination.

Left to her own devices, but sworn not to interfere with her mother's plans, the princess had spent her time continuing the study of stolen legends she had begun on Fesp. Several weeks ago, she'd found a very interesting account of alternate planes of existence, which had piqued her interest.

She had begun a diligent study of all the scrolls she could find until she cobbled together some means of opening a pathway to such a dimension.

Grinning in gleeful expectation, Celea lifted the goblet of blood, and poured it into the shallow design she had carved into the frozen soil.

Chapter Two

Angel Grove

"Verisimilitude."

Billy looked up from the thick study aid he'd been perusing, and examined his friends' faces in turn. Trini looked confident, Jason seemed to still be teasing out the answer, and Zack frowned in frustration.

"This is nuts," he grumbled. "I mean, why would anyone need to know that word?"

"You could challenge the practicality of just about everything we do in school," Billy responded with a wry grin. "At least standardized testing directly impacts our futures. A better SAT score means a better chance at getting into your top choice school."

"Yeah, but tomorrow is the P

SAT. It's just practice! Why are we even studying for it?"

"The PSAT serves its purpose," Trini answered. "It's a good measure of how you'll do on the real test, and your scores can be forwarded to universities. Over the next few months you'll get pamphlets from colleges all over the country, along with scholarship and financial aid information."

"The bottom line is, it's worth spending a couple hours on," Jason finished. "So 'verisimilitude'… that has something to do with the truth, right?"

"Right. Something that has the appearance of being true or real."

A sudden grin crossed Zack's face, and he jumped from his seat at the round patio table, hurrying to the screen door of the house. He held open the door for Alexis, who precariously balanced a large tray of tortilla chips with bowls of salsa, nacho cheese dip, guacamole and sour cream.

The Purple Ranger stared at him in surprise. "How'd you know I was coming?"

Jason chuckled, standing up to take some of the bowls from her overstocked tray. "We think he's part bloodhound. He can smell food a mile away."

Zack immediately proceeded to pile a single chip high with all the flavorful options.

"So, what's the next vocab word?" Alexis prompted, hovering at Jason's shoulder.

"Here's a challenging one: Sesquipedalian."

Jason's eyebrow quirked. "Gesundheit."

Alexis grimaced. "Are you sure that's not Greek or something?"

"The use of really big words," Zack muttered around a mouthful of chip and dip. He glanced up when he felt the startled stares of his friends. "What?"

"How'd you know that?" Trini demanded to know.

The Black Ranger shrugged. "You can't grow up with Billy Cranston without picking up something

. Besides, there's no better word to describe my main brain!" He tossed another chip into his mouth. "So when's the food coming?"

Alexis brushed her hands together. "Salad's all done, and the burgers and hot dogs are ready for grilling. Mom'll be right out."

As if on cue, Amanda Darling pushed through the door holding a tray of seasoned meat. She smiled warmly at the group of teenagers, and set the tray beside the charcoal grill.

"Do you need refills on drinks or anything?" she offered. "Lunch will be ready soon."

"We're fine, Mrs. Darling," Jason answered.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Trini volunteered.

"No thank you; everything's under control. Just keep hitting those books!"

"Here's a good one," Billy stated with a grin. "Egregious."

"Ooo… I know

this one," Alexis grumbled, rubbing her forehead.

"Doesn't it mean like really social?" Zack suggested.

"Bro, you're thinking of 'gregarious.'"

"Oh. Yeah, that sounds about right."

Amanda smiled warmly as she watched her youngest daughter interact with her new friends. When she first met Jason that Friday, he'd suggested that the entire group come over at once, to give Amanda the chance to meet them. Amanda had taken to the idea quickly, and opened up her home to the group for a picnic. And after less than an hour in the company of Trini, Jason, Billy and Zack, Amanda found herself completely charmed by them.

"Any word from Kimberly or Tommy?" she wondered aloud.

Trini politely swallowed the tortilla chip before replying. "They went to pick up the pictures from the Halloween Ball. They should get here any minute now."

Chapter Three

The North Pole

The Denebian princess watched the steam curl in the chilled air as all warmth escaped the blood. It had congealed completely, filling in the intricate grooves she'd carved into the solid stone floor. She felt the thrill of pride as the blood activated the magic embedded in the pattern. The dark red began to flash with electricity, reacting to the surge of life energy that had been expended.

Then, the wind began to gather, lifting energy from the magical engraving and carrying it into the air. Scarlet sparks swirled in a vivid storm, completely focused over the engraving.

Smirking in triumph, Celea lifted a leather scroll and began chanting the incantation that would make manifest the portal.

Chapter Four

Langstrum Alps

A sleek spaceship orbited high in the stratosphere, its passenger watching over the planet in her care with a vigilant eye.

It had been over a month since Spectra left Lumina City, the sanctuary for the Warriors of Light, in order to protect the planet Earth from the empress Phaedra. She was sent on a crucial and dangerous mission: to beat Phaedra's armies to this vulnerable planet and prevent it from falling into the hands of the Denebian Empire.

If the Empire laid claim to Earth, it would have a foothold in the Outskirts of the galaxy, giving them the opportunity to attack the forces of Light on two fronts. It would be a devastating loss to Spectra's comrades; their already meager forces would be further strained as the enemy closed in from all sides.

Spectra came to Earth alone, armed with her skill, cunning, and the White Stone, a magical crystal that can harness the power of Light. That Stone would enable human beings, fragile as they are, to participate in the salvation of their home.

The Stone had been split, and distributed to six humans with the dedication, creativity, and inner strength needed to properly wield the power of Light. Those six became the Spectrum Force.

The six still had much to learn about warfare. They were brave, intelligent, and eager to prevent their world from falling prey to the oppressive Empire. They trained every morning with little complaint, recognizing the urgency of developing their skills. Still, so far they'd been supremely lucky: the last battle fought, on the distant planet Edenia, left Phaedra marooned thousands of light-years from Earth, giving the Force a much-needed lull in battle to continue their development.

The main computer terminal flashed brightly, which in turn fed the alarms throughout the ship, alerting Spectra to danger. Her pale pink eyes narrow, she watched a globe of Earth appear on her main viewing screen.

Spectra released a slow breath. "Phaedra has recovered herself."

Closing her eyes, she sent out the summons to alert the Spectrum Force of this most recent threat.

Chapter Five

Breathe in, breathe out…

The young brunette in the back row repeated the mantra over and over again, her hazel eyes staring at the stack of neatly typed note cards in her hands. In the front of the classroom, a fellow student stood at the podium, his eyes on the audience as his hands gestured to the diagram of a Bronze Age Egyptian temple he used as part of his presentation.

Jocelyn Armand didn't hear a word of it.

I can do this… there's only twenty people in this class.

Twenty pairs of eyes watching her. What if she tripped on her way to the podium? Would her voice crack when she tried to speak? Would her voice even project loud enough?

She was soft-spoken and reserved by nature. Her whole life, she'd steered as far away from pubic speaking as possible. She'd never considered a school play, debate team, or anything else that would require it. Whenever she had to give an oral report, she struggled through it as best she could.

Still, the brief reports that peppered her high school course of study hardly compared to a twenty-minute presentation on royal ideology and state administration in Pharaoh's Egypt.

Why exactly did I take History of the Ancient World again? Did I really think studying obsolete cultures would be fun

?

The essay had been easy to write. The pop quiz on the Egyptian pantheon of gods was a breeze. But the oral report...

This will definitely

drag my grade down to a C. I can feel it…

She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes again and willing her heart to slow down to a reasonable pace. She inhaled slowly, and released her tension in a deliberate exhale. And instead of reliving the agony of her other oral reports, she tried to reflect on the bright side

I can do this. If I can confront an army of evil alien drones, facing my classmates should be a cinch.

Why it wasn't, she couldn't explain.

A sudden flash of orange light caught her eye, and her anxiety levels rose to new heights.

She was being summoned… in the middle of class, no less.

Oh no, not now!

She pulled her sleeve over her hand, careful to keep the luminous ring from drawing attention from her classmates.

A heartbeat later, the rest of the class broke in polite applause.

"Thank you, David," Dr. Philip Keenan spoke, standing up from his desk, "that was fine presentation. Take your seat."

David quickly gathered his notes, and sat down near the middle of the class.

"Now, who'd like to be next?"

Jocelyn's hand flew up immediately.

"Okay, Jocelyn, what's the topic of your report?"

"Uh… actually I was hoping I could be excused."

Dr. Keenan frowned, and suddenly, it felt like all twenty pairs of eyes were focused on her anyway.

She swallowed a lump that had clogged her throat. "I'm not feeling well."

After a few moments of deliberation, he nodded. "All right, Jocelyn, you can go. We won't be able to get through all the presentations today, anyway. But, I expect to hear your report in Friday's class."

She released a tremulous breath as she stuffed her notebook and presentation cards into her backpack. "Thanks, Dr. Keenan."

Her head bowed, she left the classroom as quickly as she could without running.

Chapter Six

In a bright flash of orange light, the final member of the Spectrum Force arrived at their mobile headquarters.

"Jocie, what took you?"

She grimaced at Matt, setting down her backpack with a heavy sigh. "History of the Ancient World seminar, remember?"

The copper-haired freshman winced. "Did you at least give your report before you left?"

"Nope, but I have to give it on Friday, no excuses."

"Relax, Jocie," Keith urged with a grin. "This time we're not going on an interplanetary field trip. We'll be back in plenty of time."

Jocelyn turned to Spectra, who sat patiently before the computer screen. "What's going on?"

Spectra pressed a button, which summoned a picture of the globe. "There's a powerful magic focused near the North Pole. It erupted about ten minutes ago, and it's like nothing I've ever seen before."

"The North Pole?" Craig repeated, frowning. "Why there? There's nothing up there but ice and penguins."

"It's also dark this time of year," Rachel stated. "Maybe the Denebians want to make sure to avoid sunlight?"

Tamara folded her arms. "Looks like Phaedra doesn't want to be interrupted."

"We must go and stop whatever spell she's conducting," Spectra determined, standing up. "Spectrum Sync, and then we will depart."

The six humans stood in a row, lifting their right hands into the air. Each Spectrum Stone, set in a silver band on their fingers, released the rich fog-like aura that swirled around the hero's body to form a tight energy cocoon. Then, in a flash of energy, it shattered, revealing the Spectrum Force.

A white aura of power wrapped Spectra, levitating her off the ground. "You can fly faster than I can. Go ahead, and I will join you."

The Force nodded in agreement, and together Earth's defenders streaked due north at the speed of light.

Chapter Seven

The North Pole

"…hunrai khel nar, j'se karin lai!"

The moment she uttered the final syllable, the energy flowing over the brand in the ground exploded, creating a jarring force that left the cave in ruins. Celea yelped as she crashed into the far wall, leaving a shallow impression.

"That wasn't supposed to happen," she breathed, shaking off the unexpected backlash of power. She steadied herself on her feet, and stared into the energy field that had manifested.

What was before formless energy became a flat screen nearly two feet wide. The screen, charged with energy, showed only darkness.

She stepped forward, pulling a scythe from its sheath and tossing it through the doorway. Energy flashed around it, but the blade clattered on the ground behind the energy field, whole and unharmed.

Her eyes narrowed. "It isn't even a doorway."

Glaring death at the malfunctioning portal, the princess marched to the remains of her stone worktable. The explosion of energy had shattered the dense rock like kindling, and the parchment from which she had read had burst into smoldering tatters.

"I can't even undo this error; not without the spell."

She began circling the anomaly, puzzling together some plan of action, when a prickling of her senses drew her attention outside the cave.

She smirked, bending to pick up her scythe. "Perhaps this won't be a complete waste of time after all."

Chapter Eight

Once the Spectrum Force had arrived at the frozen tundra on the top of the world, they slowed their flight and gathered about fifty yards in the air.

"I've never seen so much snow," Tamara commented. "How do we find the source of the energy reading when everything looks the same?"

As if in response, a dart streaked through the air, whizzing just passed Yellow's ear. She shrieked in surprise, lunging backward in case another followed.

"Tam!" Keith shouted, catching her by the shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"It just missed me..."

Red glared downward, where a small black form stood in wait. "There!"

He didn't wait for his teammates. Keith dropped to the ground, his crimson aura burning so intensely the snow melted before his feet even touched down.

At this distance, he could see the assailant clearly. A small figure, perhaps five feet in height, with forest green curls blowing violently in the harsh winds. She was dressed in a form-fitting costume of black and gray pattern, almost like snakeskin in design. Just below her waist hung a silver belt, with razor-sharp blades hanging in a row, and a matching chain rested on her brow.

Keith laughed openly. "What's this? Phaedra ran out of real

warriors? You're smaller than my little sister!"

"Careful," Craig murmured, falling into place beside his friend. The others were quick to follow.

"Do all you Earth creatures prelude a battle with banter?" the Denebian commented.

"Nah," Keith countered, stepping forward, "just us really obnoxious ones."

*Just feel her out, Keith,* Purple's advice touched his mind. *See what she can do. We've got your back.*

*You got it, Ray.*

Red began with a double-barreled energy strike, unleashed from each fist with a momentary interval between them. The lithe alien flipped out of the way of the first wave, her hands reaching behind her back as she spun high in the air. The second strike, aimed slightly higher, smashed against two curved blades, which were crossed before her face.

She smirked coolly as the burning red energy ricocheted off the enchanted scythes, flying back to its generator.

"What the hell?" Keith barked, a protective shield of energy erupting to life around him. The opposing energy wave merged seamlessly with its source, leaving an uninjured, but surprised, Red Enforcer.

"Haven't seen that one before," Matt noted.

"Scatter and strike!" Rachel ordered as the princess began moving. The Force separated, each releasing a volley of energy blasts that crashed into the snow, exploding on impact. Celea dodged, flipped, and twisted her way around, between, and through the rainbow onslaught, answering with midnight-hued energy streaking from her scythes.

Then, the princess knelt in the muddied ground that was once covered with thick snow. She drew a single blade from her belt, pure onyx in color, gleaming with obsidian power.

Rolling on the ground to dodge another volley of crimson energy, she rose and tossed the blade at her primary assailant.

Red manifested an arc of energy, intending to blast the projectile off course, but the enchanted dagger cleaved through his defense effortlessly. Too startled to react, the blade impaled his shoulder, earning a pained shriek as he registered the injury.

A heartbeat later, his power flashed out of existence, leaving an unprotected Keith Maloy to plummet helplessly to the icy earth. He fell in a boneless heap, spraying mud and slush all about him.

Celea smirked, approaching the fallen hero as he squirmed in agony.

Chapter Nine

Angel Grove

Without warning, alarm claxons screamed to life.

"ALPHA?" Zordon prompted.

"This is weird," the Edeniod robot declared, turning to the Viewing Globe. "Sensors are picking up magical activity at the North Pole!"

"IS IT LORD ZEDD?"

"Aye yi yi," Alpha grumbled in frustration. "There's severe weather in the area, and it's interfering with our sensors."

"THEN THE RANGERS MUST INVESTIGATE IN PERSON. PLEASE LOCATE THEM NOW."

Alpha scurried to another computer terminal, which kept track of the Power Coins at all times. "It looks like all the Rangers are at Alexis' house except Kim and Tommy. They're en route."

"I WOULD RATHER AVOID PLACING ALEXIS IN YET ANOTHER PROBLEMATIC POSITION WITH HER MOTHER. TWO RANGERS SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO INVESTIGATE, AND WE WILL KEEP THE OTHER RANGERS ON STANDBY SHOULD THEY ARE NEEDED."

"You got it," Alpha confirmed, activating the communicator.

Chapter Ten

As Tommy's Jeep slowed to a stop at a red traffic light, he turned at his girlfriend. "How'd they come out?"

Kimberly was grinning gleefully, flipping through the prints slowly. "They came out great! Everyone's costumes were so cool. Trini got a great

shot of us on the dance floor."

Just as the stoplight changed, both their communicators sounded.

They traded an urgent glance as Kim lifted her wrist. "What's up, Zordon?"

^WE HAVE DETECTED AN ENERGY READING AT THE NORTH POLE. SEVERE WEATHER PATTERNS HAVE MADE PROPER ANALYSIS FROM THE COMMAND CENTER IMPOSSIBLE, SO YOU TWO MUST TRAVEL THERE IN PERSON.^

"What about the others?" Tommy asked. "They're at a barbecue."

^I AM AWARE OF THIS. I WILL CONTACT JASON TO ADVISE HIM OF YOUR MISSION, BUT I WILL ONLY SUMMON THE REST OF THE TEAM IF NEEDED. REPORT TO THE COMMAND CENTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ALPHA IS PREPARING PORTABLE SCANNERS FOR YOUR USE, AND THE FIREBIRD ZORD IS READY TO DISEMBARK.^

Kim frowned. "The Firebird? Why don't we just teleport?"

^THE ATMOSPHERIC STORMS INTERFERE WITH A TELEPORT LOCK AS WELL AS SCANNERS. THE ONLY SAFE METHOD OF TRANSPORT IS A ZORD.^

"We're on our way," Tommy declared, pulling off the main street. He parked on a quiet side street, and both he and Kim hurried out of the car.

"All clear?"

Kim turned on her heel. "I don't see anyone." She grinned. "Just try to remember where you parked."

He smirked as they vanished in columns of white and pink light.

Chapter Eleven

The North Pole

"Keith!"

Yellow catapulted across the sky, scooping up the fallen hero just before their opponent could reach him. The moment she felt the weight of his body safely in her arms, a yellow energy shield flared to life, blocking out the frigid wind as she flew.

"Tam," he croaked, his left hand covering the bloody mess of his right shoulder, "she got me good."

Tamara carried him away from the battle, calling to the others telepathically. *Guys, I'm getting Keith out of here!*

*Is he okay?* Jocelyn wondered.

*He's conscious, but barely,* Tamara related, her brow furrowing with concern. *That dagger is still in his shoulder. It looks… pretty bad.*

*Meet up with Spectra,* Craig advised. *She's got to be nearby.*

*Right.*

Tamara adjusted her angle of flight, reaching out with her sixth sense to locate their approaching mentor. *Spectra! Keith's been injured!*

*Keep him warm, Tamara. I will meet you shortly.*

Tamara slowed her frantic flight, focusing her attention on strengthening her energy shield. Although it felt like forever, less than a minute later Spectra appeared in her field of vision.

"Spectra! Over here!"

Spectra met Tamara in the sky, passing through the protective energy barrier and gently touching the black blade piercing Keith's shoulder.

"When he was struck, did his powers fade?"

"Yeah!" Yellow confirmed. "He just fell out of the sky!"

"Then this must be a Disrupter," Spectra revealed.

Tamara winced as Spectra grabbed the blade, and pulled it from Keith's skin. Keith yelped in pain, but the moment the dagger was removed, his Spectrum Stone began to glow with energy.

"What… happened?" he groaned.

"Disrupters are very dangerous weapons. As the name suggests, it disrupts magical power on contact. It is particularly effective against you, because it blocks the power of the Spectrum Stones."

Tamara gasped. "Is there any way to protect ourselves from it?"

"The only way is to dodge it or block it with a weapon or physical shield. It will cut through magical force fields or energy barriers with ease. But each Disrupter can only be used once, and it is forged from a rare metal ore, so very few Denebian warriors have access to even one. Its effects only last so long as it touches the magic itself. Keith, you can Sync again. Your powers are no longer blocked."

Tamara released her boyfriend, anxiously holding onto his good arm as he steadied himself. "Spectrum Sy... OW!"

His hand flew once again to cradle the wound site.

"Your injury is deeper than I realized," Spectra admitted. "Tamara, bring him back to the ship. I will help the others."

The Yellow Enforcer needed no more convincing. She swept the ailing Red Enforcer in her arms and launched them both into the air.

Spectra watched them vanish into the murky distance, and then considered the bloodstained dagger in her hand. Its intrinsic energy had faded, leaving a simple blade behind.

The ore used to forge Disrupters had only been mined on two planets, neither of which had fallen to the Denebian Empire. Also, the technique to harness the inherent magic-diffusing power of the ore took over a century to properly learn. Very few blacksmiths had the ability to create a Disrupter, making them so rare Spectra had only encountered three in her entire lifetime.

The Force was in danger; that was obvious. It was unlikely the enemy had another Disrupter on hand, but the very fact that he carried one suggested he was a decorated warrior, close to the Denebian monarchy.

Spectra raised her hand, summoning her staff. Thus armed, she darted through the air, anxious to find the rest of her team.

Chapter Twelve

The Other North Pole

"Looks like we're here," the Pink Ranger announced, deactivating the Firebird's thrusters. The small Zord gracefully landed on the frozen tundra despite the winds, heavy snow, and dense clouds that impeded remote scanning.

She touched the ship's communication relay. "Zordon, we've arrived."

Only static greeted her.

"Our communicators are scrambled too," Tommy realized. "We're on our own."

Kim removed her safety harness and rose to her feet. "Then let's get the information, and get out of here. We're missing the whole barbecue!"

Tommy grinned, picking up a back-mounted device. "Suit up."

The two Rangers strapped on the back-mounted scanners, and detached the hand-held component for use.

"Brace yourself," Kim warned, opening the hatch, "It's cold

out there!"

Their Ranger suits protected them from the brunt of the storm, but the arctic temperatures and biting winds still gave them an uncomfortable chill.

"This way," Tommy stated, pointing into the distance. "The scanner indicates we're about two miles from the energy source."

"Do we have any idea what we're looking for?"

"We'll know it when we see it," Tommy assured her. Together they trudged through the deep snow toward their goal.

Chapter Thirteen

The Denebian Flagship

"Celea! You will

answer me when summoned!"

The empress Phaedra threw open the ornate doors of the princess' quarters with only a thought. The jarring sound of the heavy doors banging against the wall created just the forceful entrance the frustrated monarch intended to create.

The girl needed to be reminded just who was in charge of the mission to conquer Earth. Acheron could decree whatever he wished… but no one

would supplant Phaedra! Especially not her youngest child!

"Celea, you were scheduled to attend a briefing on Earth's governments!" the empress shouted, throwing open a spacious closet. Other than an array of achromatic outfits and a wall-mounted weaponry case, there was nothing there.

"Where are you..." she growled.

She was not in the bedroom or bathroom either. Phaedra closed her eyes, reaching out with her senses, searching for any trace of her daughter.

When she found her, her eyes flew open. "How dare

she??"

Chapter Fourteen

The North Pole

Celea cackled in delight as she crossed her scythes in front of her face, deflecting a particularly ruthless blast from the Green Enforcer.

"You certainly are a bloodthirsty one, aren't you?" she mocked with a cruel smirk.

Matthew glared daggers at the young girl, with strength and speed that were simply mind-boggling for her size.

"Yeah right," he growled, "I'm not the one with underhanded tricks up her sleeve!"

Her smirk widened, "You mean like this?"

Smoke poured out of her eyes, rich crimson in hue. Matt waved the air, anxious to dissipate the dense smoke, but soon all he could see was red.

Then, a powerful kick to the stomach doubled him over, and follow-up strike against his chin sent him careening into the sturdy stone of the mountain.

The princess watched the green hero slide limply down the wall. "Three down, three to go."

"So all those regal tutors couldn't teach you to count

, princess?"

Celea turned around, just in time to catch a fierce punch to the face. She staggered back, eyes blazing at the pale form almost completely obscured by the billowing snow.

Ivory hair tied in a severe braid, pale skin, white uniform… it could only be one woman.

"Spectra." The princess flashed her teeth, and drew her scythes. She leapt towards her mother's hated enemy, wicked scythes slashing like lion's claws. Spectra stood her ground despite the force of the princess' assault, blocking each swing with her sturdy pearl staff.

The rest of the Force gathered in the air, watching in mute amazement as the two contenders clashed.

"Did Spectra call her 'princess'?" Jocelyn wondered.

"Yes," Rachel answered. "She must be Phaedra's daughter."

"Terrific," Craig grumbled. "Phaedra must've sent for reinforcements!"

Then, Celea managed to break through Spectra's defense, leaving a bloody gash on the older woman's thigh.

"That's it," Rachel decided, purple energy flaring to life. "Let's restrain her, now!"

The Force separated, preparing to interfere on behalf of their mentor, when suddenly, a wide ring of crimson energy wrapped around Celea's waist like a thick belt.

The princess froze, eyes wide as the ring stretched, climbing over her hips and chest. "No… not now

!!"

Spectra smirked coldly as the cocoon swallowed the girl. "I see someone just broke her curfew. Give my regards to your mother."

By the time Spectra's mocking comment was finished, the princess was gone.

"What happened?" Rachel asked, touching down on the snow. "Did you banish her somewhere?"

The amused smile didn't leave Spectra's face. "No. That was the Rein spell, no doubt activated by Phaedra."

"Reign?" Jocelyn repeated.

"As in 'reining' in one's undisciplined offspring. It is a spell many Denebian parents learn. When a parent pulls on the Rein, the child is instantly transported to their location. So long as the child is within one million miles, it will be forced to comply."

Jocelyn, Craig, and Rachel fell into immediate laughter, imagining the formidable warrior chastised by an impatient parent. But Spectra's amusement soon faded.

"We must see what Celea has done here," she decreed, staring at the cave nearby. "She may be young, but she is a dangerous dabbler in many forms of magic. For Phaedra to summon her with the Rein spell, she must have overstepped her bounds."

The mirth quickly died, as the Force followed Spectra into the cave, where an ominous glow greeted them.

Chapter Fifteen

The Denebian Flagship

Phaedra eyed her youngest child suspiciously. The princess was obviously not dressed for battle, for instead of protective armor she wore her training clothing. Her hair was completely drenched, and from head to toe mud speckled her. "What were you doing on Earth?"

"Mother, you're overreacting," Celea assured the empress, "I was merely experimenting with some magic we uncovered on Fesp. I wasn't advancing the invasion, or anything of the sort."

"What I saw was quite different. You were fighting Spectra and her human pets! You defied my explicit instructions not

to interfere!"

"That's because Spectra and the humans attacked me," the princess explained. "I specifically chose the extreme north because there are so few humans there. I intended to go unseen."

"And what exactly where you trying to accomplish?" Phaedra demanded, "What kind of 'magic' did you find on Fesp?"

Celea tensed, but managed to meet the empress' burning gaze evenly. There was no shame in her words as she confessed, "I was trying to open an inter-dimensional portal."

The dead silence of shock claimed Phaedra's next question. Celea held her head high, patiently waiting for her mother to explode.

"Do you have the smallest clue how dangerous that kind of magic is? How fragile dimensional walls are? Such magic is not

for children!"

The princess bristled. "I am not a child!"

Phaedra glared. "If you weren't yet a child, I wouldn't have been able to Rein you in."

The princess grimaced, but did not argue the point further.

"Which dimension were you reaching for?"

"Chaos."

Phaedra blinked. "You're trying to summon Chaotics?"

"Yes!" A wicked smile pulled the princess' lip. "Can you imagine? Beasts the size of mountains emerging through my portals, creating havoc and demolishing everything they touch? Even the most formidable of planets would fall to such an assault!"

"Chaotics are uncontrollable

, Celea," Phaedra growled. "They do not heed the order of anyone from the physical plane!"

"That's why I tried the spell on Earth," Celea retorted. "If I had succeeded, and if the creature I had summoned refused to obey me, the very worst that could've happened would be some destruction on Earth. Eventually I would've figured out a way to close the portal, and send it back to its home."

She folded her arms, frowning. "Not that it matters. I somehow miscast the spell. A portal appeared, but it refused to open."

Phaedra released a slow breath, visibly relieved by her daughter's failure. Though she was always eager to explore new techniques of wanton destruction, even she stayed away from piercing holes in the dimensional walls. Accessing small pocket dimensions was one thing, but toying with gateways into other realities almost guaranteed disaster.

Chapter Sixteen

The North Pole

After a brief tunnel, the Force stepped into the main chamber, where a flat panel of vibrant energy floated in the air.

"Talk about a flat screen," Craig murmured, circling the phenomenon. "It's only two-dimensional!"

"What is it?" Jocelyn queried.

Spectra's insightful gaze surveyed the entire room: the dead animal against the wall, the crushed table, the impression of a body against the wall, and the scorch marks scarring everything in sight. She then knelt beside the portal, studying the strange design etched into the ground, filled with blood.

"It almost looks like a communication window, to speak to someone… but the evidence around us suggests that it is something far more significant."

"Hey look! I think I see something!"

Jocelyn leaned closer, staring into the darkness depicted before her. "There's something pink in there."

Chapter Seventeen

The Other North Pole

"Freaky," Kim awed, approaching the glowing rectangle hovering in the air. "It's like a movie screen. And there're people inside. Get a load of those outfits!"

Tommy stared at the energy flashing along the edges of the "screen," the intensity growing with each step the Pink Ranger took. "Careful, Kim," he warned, looking back to his scanner. "Whatever it is, it's reacting to you. The energy levels are jumping the closer you get."

"I think this thing transmits two-ways," Kim continued, waving. "Hey! Can you see us in there?"

The figure in Orange waved back, though all Kim could hear was the crackling of energy.

"I guess we don't get audio," the Pink Ranger concluded. "I wonder what planet we're seeing? They look like they could be humanoid. Two arms, two legs, one head."

Then, Orange stepped closer still, propping her hands at the sides of her mouth as if she were shouting.

"They're trying to talk to us," Kim realized, inching closer. "Can you hear me? Hellooo!!"

Tommy's eyes widened as a sudden spike in energy was registered. "Kim, we-"

He never had a chance to finish his thought. One moment, the Pink Ranger was standing in front of the anomaly, shouting to those on the other end. Then, without warning, a brilliant flash swallowed everything, blinding Tommy instantly.

"Whoa!" Tommy gasped, jumping back and shielding his eyes. When the light faded, he still saw spots… but he didn't see the Pink Ranger.

"Kim?" he murmured, thunderstruck. "Kim!"

He ran to the screen. Instead of the people he saw earlier, swirls of energy filled his view.

"Kim!" he screamed, "Hang on, I'm coming!"

He jumped through the rectangle, fully expecting to be sucked into some alien planet or Dark Dimension. Instead, he landed on the ground in the same shallow cave from which he came.

Startled, he turned around.

The portal then flashed once, and vanished, shrouding the White Ranger in almost complete darkness.

A young woman lay on the frozen ground, perfectly still.

"Kim!"

Tommy knelt beside her, tearing off his helmet. The frigid arctic air stung his cheeks, raising his concern.

He brushed her hair out of her face, and held his cheek to her nose. Her shallow breaths helped ease the tension that all but choked the White Ranger.

"Zordon!" he called into his wrist. "Zordon, this is Tommy!"

All he received was static.

"Nothing," he hissed, snapping on his helmet and turning to the girl. She was still unconscious, though she trembled with cold. Her summery clothing did nothing to combat the arctic temperature.

"She's freezing," he realized with dismay. He turned around again, looking for some clue to what had happened, but he could discern nothing other than snow, rock, and earth.

"The window is completely gone," he realized, snapping his scanner in place. "C'mon Kim, we've gotta go."

Tommy gently lifted her into his arms, and carried her into the storm. He cradled her head to his chest, running as quickly as he could through the blizzard, praying he remembered exactly

where the Firebird was parked. If he delayed, she could die from the extreme cold, and he had nothing to protect her with.

For once, his faulty memory came through. He sighed in relief as the red vehicle came into view, contrasting sharply to the frigid whiteness of the barren tundra.

He raced up the ramp and into the cockpit, laying her down with the greatest care. Now that both light and warmth surrounded them, he was able to notice some inexplicable differences... that made his heart quicken with growing concern.

Her hair was notably lighter than it had been. What should have been a rich copper-streaked brown was now highlighted with honey locks, bordering on blonde. Her pink sundress and denim vest had been replaced with a white college-logo tank top and worn jeans.

"What's 'Dreiser University'?" he mumbled, perplexed.

He then lifted her wrist, and noticed that her communicator was gone.

"What's going on here?"

Frustrated, he pulled the top off of a small box marked with a red cross, that was standard in all Zord cockpits for emergency. He unfolded the silver emergency blanket, and drew it over her bare shoulders carefully. Then, he turned around, a new sense of dread rising as he sat in the pilot's chair.

He had no idea how to pilot a flying Zord. And he couldn't reach Zordon to ask for instructions.

Tense fingers pulled Saba from its sheath. The sentient saber's eyes opened, and stared into the White Ranger's visor.

"Tell me you know how to fly this thing."

"This thing?" Saba repeated, confused.

"The Firebird Zord."

The saber blinked its jeweled eyes. "How unusual… but this is your lucky day. I am familiar with the basic controls of all the Thunder Zords. It's a requirement of initiating the joint configurations."

"Lucky day?" Tommy repeated incredulously. He gazed at the unconscious girl on the floor, and released a heavy sigh. "Somehow, I doubt it."

Part Two

Chapter Eighteen

Langstrum Alps

The Green Enforcer streaked through the air, leaving a trail of energy similar to a comet. Typically, he tried to restrain his energy, to keep from attracting undue attention from the people below. Only now, he didn't care.

With increased power came increased speed… and Jocelyn needed medical attention as soon as possible.

It only took a few minutes to reach the ship at the fastest speed he could travel with a passenger, but each second counted.

The hatch opened at his approach and he slipped right in, hurrying to the small area specified for emergency care.

"Matt?" Tamara gasped in surprise. She was still tracing a beam of energy over Keith's injured shoulder, mending the deep wound.

"What happened?" Keith demanded, his gaze fixed on the unconscious girl in Matt's arms.

"There was this… panel of energy in the cave," the Green Enforcer explained, laying her on an empty bed. "When Jocelyn got near it, it flashed with really bright energy, and she disappeared. Then, she reappeared, only she was out of uniform."

"Not only that," Tamara noted. "Her outfit's different. Jocelyn doesn't have any pink dresses."

Matt took a step back, willing the transformation to break. A flash of green light suffused him, reverting him back to normal. Wide green eyes stared at Tamara. "Maybe it's new?"

Tamara shook her head. "Trust me Matt, if she had a new outfit, I would've found out the minute she walked into the apartment."

Keith pushed passed the pain in his arm as he too stood up. He joined his friends, and stared closely at the girl.

"What does it mean?" he wondered.

Just then, the hangar door opened again, as the rest of the Force entered the ship.

"No luck at all," Craig groused. "The portal is gone, and there's no sign of her Spectrum Stone anywhere."

"And the place was in shambles to begin with," Rachel added. "No magic books or scrolls, or anything to give us any clue about what Celea did. Just a lot of broken rock."

"And the brand on the ground," Spectra corrected, lifting a thin panel of rock. On its surface was the very design they had found in the cave, congealed blood sticking to the stone to create a crimson stamp. "I will do what I can to research the origin of this spell. I'm not familiar with this kind of magic."

"First we need to figure out what happened to Jocelyn," Matt insisted.

"She's still unconscious," Rachel noted. "How's her body temperature? She was exposed to the arctic weather without her Spectrum Stone."

"She's fine," Matt assured her. "My ring kept her warm along the way."

"But something is definitely

wrong with her," Tamara insisted. "I've never seen her wear anything like this outfit. Plus, her hair's wrong. It's too dark."

Spectra's eyes widened. "Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

"That's a weird watch," Keith noted, reaching over and lifting her hand.

Tamara grimaced. "Ugh… I never would've let Jocie out of the apartment with that

thing on."

"And we still have to figure out what this thing is," Craig reminded his friends, nodding to the strange machine with leather straps. "It was on her back when she reappeared."

The group exchanged looks of consternation and concern, each trying to figure out a feasible explanation for Jocelyn's change in appearance, and the strange machines she brought with her. Spectra stared intently at the girl for a few moments, and then pulled a metal ring from a drawer.

"What's that?" Tamara wondered, moving aside as Spectra set the ring around the girl's forehead.

"This device will keep her unconscious."

"For what?" Matt demanded.

Spectra then pulled a single strand of hair from the girl's head, and held it up to the light. "I refuse to take any chances. I will not let her regain consciousness until all our scans are complete and conclusive."

The team stared in confusion as Spectra moved to a computer station. She set the hair on a small glass bed, and pressed a button. A flare of light flashed from a bulb beneath the glass, and an image was displayed on the screen.

"Rachel," Spectra ordered, her eyes never leaving the screen, "return to your home. Bring me Jocelyn's hairbrush."

The Purple Enforcer glanced at the unconscious girl, and then her mentor. "I don't understand. Why do you think Jocelyn is a threat?"

Spectra turned, locking her eyes with each Enforcer in turn. "I do not believe this person is

Jocelyn."

Chapter Nineteen

Angel Grove

When she finally regained consciousness, she felt slime covering her body. Every inch of her, from head to toe, was completely immersed.

Her arms and legs began to wave slowly, but the viscous substance prevented too much movement.

Where am I? What's going on??

Her heart pounded as her terror rose. Memories flooded her mind, of the black ochre that had swallowed her on the planet Edenia, covering her flesh, choking her screams, invading her mind…

She opened her eyes, yet the moisture submersing her stung, forcing her to close them. Her mouth opened, but a mask over her lips muffled her scream.

NO! LET ME OUT!!!

On the verge of panic, she reached to the warmth of the Spectrum Stone, and the power that yielded to her command.

Spectrum Sync!

Chapter Twenty

"…but nothing I can think of explains why she looks so different," Tommy sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"What did the portal look like?" Jason asked. "Anything like Billy's Portal-com?"

"It looked like a movie screen. We could see people on the other side, and they could see us."

"But why did it suck in Kimberly, and not you?" Zack wondered.

"Maybe I was too far away?" Tommy suggested. "I don't know… I just don't get why I couldn't go in after her!"

Billy rubbed his chin. "Where is Kim now?"

Tommy jerked his thumb to the corridor behind them. "Alpha set her up in some kind of gel to treat hypothermia. When she reappeared, she wasn't morphed, and I couldn't keep her warm enough. By the time we reached the Firebird Zord, she was a little blue."

Trini turned to Zordon. "Have we gotten anywhere with the analysis of Tommy's scanner recording?"

"NOT AT PRESENT. THE CURRENT PRIORITY IS DETERMINING KIMBERLY'S HEALTH. PERHAPS SHE CAN EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED TO HER."

"I'll take a look at the scanner readings," Billy volunteered. "Maybe we can figure out where the portal led, and what made it manifest."

"I'll help you," Trini offered, and the pair proceeded to download the information gathered by the scanner.

"That part is really

bothering me," Tommy confessed. "We have no idea who created that portal. There wasn't a sign of Zedd anywhere. No Putties, no Goldar, no monster. Unless he set a trap for us to fall into."

"WE CANNOT DISCOUNT THAT POSSIBILITY," Zordon admitted. "HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS. FOR INSTANCE, SOME PORTALS MANIFEST AT RANDOM, WITH NO ONE CAUSING THEM."

Alexis' eyes widened. "Really? Wow… that's scary."

"RANDOM TIME HOLES ARE EXTREMELY RARE, BUT THEY ARE KNOWN TO OCCUR."

"But how'd she come back so suddenly?" Jason wondered.

"IF SHE WAS SENT TO ANOTHER TIME OR DIMENSION, SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN STRANDED THERE FOR SOME TIME, ONLY TO LATER DISCOVER A MEANS TO REOPEN THE PORTAL AND RETURN TO THE PRECISE MOMENT SHE LEFT."

"That would explain why she looks so different!" Alexis realized. "Only a few seconds passed for us, but maybe Kim was really gone for months!"

A severe frown darkened Tommy's face. "The portal didn't disappear until after she came back. It's not like it vanished and then reappeared. I saw the portal, and I tried to follow her, but I couldn't pass through."

"Then we have to-"

Jason's words were overwhelmed by a loud explosion that shook the Command Center, tossing the Rangers to the ground.

"Something happened to Kim," Tommy muttered, standing up and reaching for his Morpher. "It's Morphin' Time!"

Chapter Twenty-One

Langstrum Alps

It was strange. One minute, Kimberly Hart was dead to the world. Then, a heartbeat later, she woke with a start, as if an internal light switch had been flipped. She moved her hand to her forehead to rub a sore spot, only her fingers traced a thin metal band that bound her head like a crown. Puzzled, she pulled off the band slowly.

The first thing she noticed was the sun gleaming overhead, brighter than she ever remembered seeing it. Only then did she realize that she wasn't looking exactly at the sun. Rather, there was a translucent dome overhead, consisting of vibrant colors elaborately swirled together. She stared at the tie-dyed dome, watching the waves of color flow into each other like a lava lamp.

Then, as she lifted her head to get a better view, she realized she was lying on something warm, firm, and curved.

She stared downward, and released a startled scream.

The vibrantly colored dome was in fact a sphere, encasing her in its warm glow. And the colored sphere was hanging in mid air, with puffy clouds floating beneath

it.

She was miles

from the ground!

"Zordon? Zordon, do you read me?"

Her communicator was silent.

Kim's breaths quickened as she reached for her Morpher. "Pterodactyl!"

She expected the comforting flood of pink energy to envelop her, encasing her in her protective armor. She expected to break free from her spherical prison, and fall to the Earth, allowing the Power to strengthen her limbs to let her land safely.

None of that happened.

"Pterodactyl!!" she repeated, her voice urgent. Yet her Power Coin did not react.

Frowning, Kim stared closely at her Morpher. The coin was in place, and it looked

like the real thing.

Maybe Zedd kidnapped me. Maybe he's blocking my powers…

Only, no Dark Dimension ever looked like this. Dark Dimensions were supposed to be… well… dark

.

Then, with a startling suddenness, four streaks of light appeared around her: purple, yellow, blue, and… green?

At first, Kim's heart leapt for joy that her friends had tracked her down. Only, the sight of green energy instantly confused her, since the Green Coin had been lifeless for weeks.

Then, the streaks of light materialized into four humanoids in strange costumes, and her heart sank anew.

Wait… those outfits! I've seen them before!

Then, she remembered the mission to the North Pole. And the energy portal she and Tommy discovered.

"Who are you?" the Green one demanded. His hair was reddish-brown, sprouting from the top of his bright green mask. While his face was covered, the growl in his tone made it more than obvious that he wasn't happy to see her.

Kim stared into the blue visor, trying to make out the person's gaze. Only the lens was just as opaque as her helmet's.

"My name is Kimberly Hart," she stated. She was grateful that her voice didn't crack under the stress of the situation. She'd regained at least some of her composure.

"Where are you from?" the Blue one asked. While his height and physique dwarfed the Green one, he was strangely less threatening. His voice held no menace. He sounded calm. Curious.

Curiosity wasn't exactly a good thing, but Kim would take that over outright vehemence any day of the week.

Does he mean what planet? Or what city?

Kim decided she'd cover all the bases. "Milky Way Galaxy, Sol system, planet Earth, United States of America, California, the city of Angel Grove."

Something about her answer obviously puzzled her captors. They all turned their heads toward each other, though they didn't say a word.

"I've never heard of Angel Grove," the Yellow one commented. Something about her slim frame, soft voice, and flowing ebony hair reminded Kim of her best friend, making her wonder just what these four beings looked like beneath their masks.

"It's a small city in southern California. Most people had never heard of it, but the monster attacks brought us the same kind of infamy Roswell gets."

"Monster attacks?" the Yellow one repeated. Kim could almost imagine a look of shock on her face. "How is that…"

She bit her tongue, turning toward the one in Purple. But Purple never said anything, nor did she look at her teammate… and yet Yellow obviously got some kind of message.

The one in Purple was in charge. And from her stiff, straight-backed posture and folded arms, she exuded a strength and severity that put Kimberly on alert.

"What is that device you're holding? And the strange watch on your wrist?"

Kim glanced down at her Morpher anxiously. That was the question she had hoped to avoid.

Zordon told us never to tell anyone that we're Rangers… but does that apply to other super-powered beings?

Not that she knew whether these four beings were friends or foes. But since she was powerless, hanging miles from the ground, her life very literally depended on the whim of these four beings. The last thing she wanted to do was give them a reason to drop her.

She decided to start with her wrist unit. "This is a communicator, that connects me to my friends. But it's not working now."

"And that Game Boy-thing?" Green demanded.

Kimberly blinked at his choice of words. I guess my Morpher does

look something like a video game. Well, that answers one question: these guys are human. Or at least they're familiar with pop-culture.

That observation eased Kim's nerves just enough to get her to answer. "It's a Morpher. I use it to become the Pink Power Ranger."

"And it's not working," Blue observed.

Kim grimaced, unable to hide her displeasure. Great. Now they know

I'm helpless…

"Your uniform is pink and white, and you have a tall friend who wears white, black and gold, right?"

Kim perked up at Yellow's question. "Right!"

"Do you recognize us?" Purple asked.

Kim stared at them each in turn. "I saw you and you," she said, pointing to Blue and then Yellow, "and one in Orange. Maybe the rest of you were in the background."

"What happened to Orange? Did you see her?" Green demanded, his tone suddenly urgent.

"Did I see her… where?"

"Face to face, while you were in transit between dimensions," Blue elaborated.

Kim's eyes widened. In truth, the thought had

crossed her mind, though she was thinking more in terms of a wormhole teleporting her to another planet. Alternate dimensions… it was bizarre to hear the concept spoken aloud.

"We have a few theories," Purple said. "And we're going to piece together exactly what happened."

Chapter Twenty-Two

Keith frowned at the viewing screen as he watched four of his teammates surround the mysterious girl they had found. The mysterious girl that bore a remarkable resemblance to Jocelyn Armand, the Orange Enforcer.

Despite the nigh-identical appearance, the DNA test proved beyond a doubt that the girl, who they now knew was named Kimberly, was not

Jocelyn. Nor was she a clone, robot, hologram, or shape shifter. The scans proved conclusively that she was human.

Of course, that knowledge didn't offer much relief to the Force. A clone or robot could be explained as part of Celea's scheme. But how could one explain this?

So far, the only explanations they could come up with were as bizarre and unlikely as a bad made-for-TV sci-fi flick. But then again, after traveling to distant planets and encountering both alien species and freakish magical monsters, each with unique abilities that stretched the human imagination, perhaps the concept of alternate dimensions wasn't really that unlikely after all.

Keith's eyes lingered on Kim, watching her tense as she tried to respond to the Force's questions. From her perspective, the four college students were quite threatening, hovering around her in a perfect square, energy auras blazing so brightly they were difficult to look at directly. Plus, the poor girl was floating in the stratosphere, held only by a thin wall of light that looked as fragile as glass.

"Spectra, I think she's had enough," he spoke, turning toward the small laboratory where their mentor labored. "What's the point in giving her the third degree? We know she's not a Denebian spy."

"No, we don't," Spectra answered. "If she is truly a human being from another plane of existence, she may have come from a reality in which the Denebians have already conquered Earth. She may serve the Empire."

Keith blinked. "You think a human being would help an alien race wipe out Earth? Are you serious?"

Spectra's expression was the very picture of serious. "We know nothing of this girl. She could have been bribed, or coerced to protect family and friends. She could even have been directly influenced by evil magic. My scans are picking up a very low-level energy signature in her system that is foreign to normal humans. It suggests that she is somehow empowered."

"Which could be explained by that 'Power Ranger' story she just told," Keith pointed out. "She was forthright about having some sort of power, and you guys did

see people in pink and white costumes through that window. What if she's telling the truth?"

Spectra turned in her seat. "If she is telling the truth, then it is likely that Jocelyn is still alive somewhere in the Multiverse. However, it will be exceedingly difficult to find her."

Keith frowned. "What makes you say that?"

"The number of realms is countless, and the portal has closed. The only clue we have to what Celea has done lies in the blood brand she carved into the ground. My knowledge of the Multiverse is limited; I have always been taught to avoid spells that tear holes in the fabric of reality. I cannot reopen the portal."

Keith tried to fold his arms, only to wince as he aggravated his injured shoulder. "Can't we bring Kim inside? Maybe this interview will go better if she's not

scared for her life?"

Spectra considered for a moment, and then nodded. "The Force will meet you in the gym, where the walls are reinforced and no critical systems are accessible, should she try to escape. I will join you shortly."

Chapter Twenty-Three

The Green one was interrogating her, demanding that she describe what she remembered, when suddenly he cut off in mid sentence. Then, the rest of the group turned around, looking into the distant horizon. Kim squinted against the setting sun, trying to make out what it could be that they saw. But all she could see was the rich blue of the sky, and cloud patterns gathered below. And she didn't hear anything, either.

Obviously, they

heard something.

Then, the Purple one drew closer. "Kimberly, we're taking you in."

Kim opened her mouth to ask for some details, but then Purple lifted her hands, causing energy to gather around her pale purple gloves. The others drew back, and then the spherical energy field surrounding Kim grew smaller, the swirls fading into a deep, vibrant, solid purple.

Kim realized she could no longer see through the sphere. The energy was too dense, and too bright. And it kept drawing closer, reshaping into a rectangle, giving her less than a foot of space between her body and the walls on all sides.

Kim held her breath, fingering her Morpher. It hadn't worked before, but maybe whatever blocked her powers had passed…?

She pressed her back against one wall, maximizing the space before her, and thrust out her Morpher at nearly arm's length. But before she could release her Morphin' call, she heard voices outside.

"Ray, you sealed her up in there

? Damn, that's cruel!"

It was a voice she didn't recognize… a fifth member of the group.

"Only for a few seconds," Purple's voice defended. "She doesn't need to know how to get here."

Suddenly, the rectangle vanished. Kim fell helplessly onto her backside once the wall she'd been leaning on disappeared, and the Morpher clattered to the floor beside her.

A sterile, white tiled floor, that stretched into the distance. Though since everything was white on all sides, it was practically impossible to see where the floor ended, and the wall began.

The only signs of color where the four monochromatic figures standing in a row in front of her.

"You okay, Kim?"

Kim whirled around, and was shocked when her gaze met a pair of friendly blue eyes.

"How'd you know my name?"

He smiled, and Kim got the sudden impression that this young man was definitely a charmer. "I listened in while you talked with my friends." He offered his hand. "My name's Keith. I'm Red."

Kim accepted his hand, and then he carefully lifted her to her feet. Kim stepped back, her eyes scanning the ground for her Morpher.

"Looking for this?" Blue asked, holding up the device. "Mind if I hold onto it? Just until we figure out what the hell's going on."

"Do I have a choice?" Kim answered.

"Well… not really, no," Blue admitted. "We have to make sure you're not a threat to us. If this thingamajig gives you super powers, then it's something we don't want you to have in here."

"Fine," Kim sighed. Her patience with this interrogation was running thin.

Keith kept his eyes on her, noting her building frustration. "I'm sorry we're putting you through this. I know it's tough to imagine, but the security of the entire planet

is on our shoulders. We have to make sure you can be trusted."

There was a sincerity in his tone that helped ease Kimberly's tension. She could imagine the burden of responsibility. She could relate.

"I understand," she said finally. "That's what the Power Rangers do, too. We protect Earth from threats. We fight evil; well… particularly the evil space alien variety."

Kim then mustered a smile. Judging from the surprise on Keith's face, she figured she must've said something right.

"That's what we were doing in the North Pole," she continued, maximizing the opportunity to get her point of view across. "My teammate and I were investigating a strange energy field we picked up. That's what brought us to the cave, where we saw the screen. And then the thing sucked me into it."

"Seems we have a lot in common," Blue stated.

"Right," Green scoffed. "Too

much in common, if you ask me."

Kim opened her mouth to respond, but the click of heels approaching drew her attention. She squinted into the whiteness, trying to make out what approached, to no avail.

Then, the figure was close enough to be seen. Incredibly, she was white from head to toe, blending almost seamlessly with the whitewashed walls. White catsuit, white hair pulled in a tight braid, and ghostly skin. The only splash of vibrant color was her eyes, a peculiar shade of pink.

The white figure paused near her team, and nodded to Kimberly in some sort of greeting. "I am Spectra, guide to the Spectrum Force." Her voice was rich, and heavily accented.

"Kim Hart, Pink Power Ranger," Kim introduced automatically.

"Did you figure anything out, Spectra?" Yellow wondered.

"Progress has been made, but it is slow," Spectra admitted. She then held her hand to Blue.

No words were exchanged, but Blue set Kim's Morpher into the pale palm nonetheless. Spectra stared at the device, studying it carefully.

"What is this image on the medallion?"

"A Pterodactyl. It's a dinosaur."

"And this 'dinosaur' is the source of your powers?"

Kim paused, considering. "Not really, no. The Coin is powered by an energy matrix in our Command Center."

Spectra nodded, as if she'd expected that sort of answer. "That is why your coin does not summon your powers. The source of power behind your coin is in another dimension, and it cannot reach you here."

Kim's eyes widened. For the first time since she arrived, she felt true horror. "Then… as long as I'm here, I'm completely powerless?"

Spectra's grip tightened on the Morpher. "I do feel a residual energy, similar to the energy in your body. But it is very, very faint. It isn't enough power to transform you. I'm afraid this device is useless to you."

She then handed the Morpher back to Kim. "Keep this with you at all times. It will not serve you here, but when you return to your realm your powers will be restored."

Kim's face lit up in a brilliant smile. "You know how to send me back to Angel Grove?"

"Not yet, but it must be done." Spectra then turned to Yellow. "Tamara, please escort Kimberly to your apartment. Keith, accompany them. Be discreet. And while you are there, collect as much information as you can about Kimberly's dimension."

Purple stiffened, and Green gasped aloud. "Spectra, are you-"

She held up her hand, and he remained silent.

Kimberly stared in confusion as everyone stood silently. Then, Yellow approached, and reached out her hand. "How 'bout we get some pizza, Kim? Do you have pizza in your world?"

Kim smirked at the question. The strange silences certainly didn't help ease her suspicions, but she couldn't deny the grumbling of her stomach. She never even got

to Alexis' barbecue, and she was famished!

"We definitely have pizza in my world."

Chapter Twenty-Four

Matthew watched Tamara guide the stranger into the main ship. She didn't even bother to cover her eyes; she just walked right out the door.

The doppelganger was free as a bird, and no one knew for certain

what she was capable of.

"I don't like this," Rachel said aloud, folding her arms, "We have no reason to trust Kim. We don't know if she's telling the truth about anything

."

Matt's severe frown eased. At least he wasn't the only one concerned.

"We know that she is human, and we now know that she was forced into our dimension," Spectra revealed. "I performed a detailed analysis on the brand Celea used. I have not yet found its precise match, but I have determined its class. It is an aggressive portal spell, designed to breech dimensional walls."

Craig's eyebrow quirked. "Aggressive?"

"It forces inter-dimensional transit. Some portals are passive, meaning they open doorways, but an individual would still need to actively step through. This one gave neither Jocelyn or Kimberly the option."

"Any theories why the portal only allowed Jocelyn and her mirror image to trade places?" Matt wondered. "None of us were able to follow."

"It must be a property of this specific portal," Spectra decided. "But this goes well beyond the scope of my knowledge. I must travel to Lumina City to consult the High Father. He is the only person I know with intimate knowledge of other dimensions, and he may be able to help me ascertain what Celea has done, and how to safely undo it."

Spectra then turned to Rachel. "I will take the Glider, leaving the main ship here. While I am away, you must be vigilant guardians of Earth. I cannot fathom what Celea was trying to accomplish, but this portal may be the first phase in a larger scheme."

"Then we'll take turns monitoring Earth from here," Rachel decided.

"What about Kimberly?" Craig wondered.

"You must keep a careful eye on her as well. I prefer her to remain on Earth; if she does reveal herself to be a spy, she cannot sabotage our equipment from there. My instinct is that she is as much a victim as Jocelyn, but we cannot be certain."

Chapter Twenty-Five

Angel Grove

At Alpha's insistence, Jocelyn submitted to a detailed analysis to prove once and for all that she had recovered fully from her hypothermia, while the Power Rangers reported back to their mentor with an update. Her body temperature was still less than normal, but under the circumstances, it was nothing some warm fluid wouldn't cure.

So Alpha took the only appropriate course of action. "Would you like some tea, Jocelyn?"

She startled at the inquiry. "Excuse me?"

"You should drink something warm," he explained, pressing a few keys and pointing to a monitor. "Look. You're out of the danger zone, but your temperature is still below normal, and you haven't ingested anything in hours."

"Oh."

Alpha pulled a folded blanket from a drawer, and draped it over Jocelyn's shoulders. "Follow me."

She slowly climbed off the cot she was seated on, and followed the diminutive droid out of the wrecked infirmary into the hallway. They walked away from the sound of voices, but Jocelyn could still make out some of what was said.

"…still need to figure out what happened to Kim. Where did Jocelyn come from?"

"Maybe she's some alternate dimension's version of Kim? I mean, Jeez… she looks exactly

like her. It's kinda spooky!"

Jocelyn bit her lip. "Alpha? Who is this 'Kim' everyone keeps talking about?"

"Kimberly Hart is the Pink Power Ranger."

An image of a figure in a pink costume similar to the other Rangers surfaced in Jocelyn's mind. "I saw her in that portal at the North Pole."

Alpha nodded. "She and Tommy, the White Ranger, were sent to the North Pole to investigate an energy reading. What they found was the portal that apparently you saw as well from your dimension."

Jocelyn glanced back down the hall in the direction from which the Rangers' voices emanated. "And… I resemble Kim, don't I?"

"It's more than simply a resemblance. You could be twins!"

She grimaced. That just can't

be a coincidence.

Alpha turned toward a doorway, and Jocelyn watched as the doors slid open, revealing a cozy kitchen.

She smirked with amusement. "Do you guys live down here?"

"I do, but the Rangers still live at home. A long time ago, the Rangers did live in the Command Center, so these headquarters were designed with all the facilities humanoids need to survive: meal room, bathing rooms, living quarters, training room… the works. But Zordon had decided that it was too much to expect the Rangers to leave their homes, unless their lives were immediately threatened. On one of the previous teams, one member in particular was bitter about leaving his family and life behind. It… ended badly."

Alpha's tone switched from reflective to chipper as he stood at what looked like a wall-mounted microwave. "So, what can I get for you? Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, warm milk?"

"Hot tea, please."

"Black, green, oolong, white, or herbal?"

Jocelyn's eyebrow rose. "Uh… just your regular Lipton tea is fine."

"Sugar, honey, milk, lemon?"

She felt the urge to scratch her head. "Just a little honey. If it's not too much trouble, that is."

Alpha typed in the commands, and Jocelyn stared as a flash of light passed through the clear lens of the door. When Alpha opened it, a mug of steaming tea greeted her.

"Here you go," he said cheerfully.

Jocelyn accepted the cup, staring at it suspiciously. She took an experimental sip, and then stared at the cup anew.

Alpha giggled at her wary stare. "The synthetron still has some bugs to work out, but it's very good at simulating most beverages and simple foods accurately. We're working on programming the more modern foods; my current culinary priority is perfecting the cheeseburger. Would you like anything to eat?"

"No," she answered quickly. "I don't have much of an appetite."

The small robot scuttled to her side, laying a padded hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. Zordon will figure out how to get you home, fit as a fiddle."

She stared at the synthetic being, peering at its neck and head to determine some

way to remove the casing to reveal a real person. Could a robot possibly be so compassionate?

"If you're ready, I can show you to the main Command Center," Alpha invited. "We do need to figure out our next steps."

She nodded, taking another long sip of the tea. The warmth flooded her, easing some of her tension. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Chapter Twenty-Six

Zack had to admit it; he was impressed. Alpha had strolled in, politely introducing Jocelyn to Zordon, and the girl didn't even blink at the gigantic floating head looming over her. She only smiled and waved in greeting.

Who knows what kind of weird aliens she's seen in her dimension?

"So, are you a non-corporeal spirit creature, or is this tube some sort of projection device, sending an image of you from somewhere else?" Jocelyn asked.

"BOTH, ACTUALLY," was the response. "ONCE I WAS A MAN, BUT NOW THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN COMMUNICATE WITH MY RANGERS."

Jocelyn nodded, and smiled at each of the Rangers in turn. They were far less intimidating without their uniforms, and she could even make eye contact with each one… except the hostile one in a white tank top and cargo shorts, who looked away almost immediately.

A rueful smile emerged as she went back and looked at each teen one more time. "Do you guys always wear outfits in your color, or is this just a weird coincidence?"

The observation won an embarrassed blush from the one in a striped shirt and blue jeans, a roll of the eye from the girl in a purple crop top, and a deep chuckle from Zordon.

"I told

you guys we need to work on that," the purple one grumbled, folding her arms irritably.

"No one's figured it out before," the one in red stated, an amused grin on his face. He then approached Jocelyn, and extended his hand. "You've matched faces to colors, but you still don't know what to call most of us yet. I'm Jason."

Jocelyn shook his hand, secretly grateful for his easy-going demeanor and genuine grin. The welcome helped set her at ease.

"These are the rest of the Power Rangers: Alexis, Billy, and Tommy… and you met Trini and Zack earlier."

"Right," Jocelyn said, smiling at the two who were the first to let their guard down earlier. Her hazel eyes lingered on Tommy, who seemed to be closely inspecting something on the tip of his sneaker.

He has every right to be upset. They all do, really. They have no idea what happened to their friend.

"Have you guys figured anything out?"

"Nothing useful," Trini explained. "All we've been able to conclude is that the portal was inter-dimensional, and that it was very unstable."

"Unstable?" Jocelyn repeated, her heart sinking. "That doesn't sound promising."

"It means it'll be much more difficult tracing the portal to determine its origin," Alpha explained. "More stable portals can be properly analyzed and reactivated without too much difficulty. Preliminary analysis suggests this is an entirely different kind of portal."

"One thing that may help is knowing what happened from your perspective," Billy commented. "You said you saw a screen, and you saw an image of Tommy. Is that correct?"

"I saw Tommy and your friend Kim," she elaborated. "In fact, we all saw them."

"Who's 'we'?" Alexis inquired.

"Me and the rest of the Spectrum Force. We were investigating an energy reading at the North Pole, and we found the Denebian princess toying around with some sort of magic…"

She stopped when she noticed the blank expressions on the Rangers faces.

"Maybe I should start from the top?"

"THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL."

"Okay… um, a couple weeks ago my friend Rachel was picked by this alien hero Spectra to assemble a team of humans to fight off the Denebian Empire. The Denebians are these power-hungry aliens bent on taking over the galaxy, and they set their sights on Earth to add it to their Empire so they can squash the resistance. Anyway, Rachel picked me and four of our friends to become the Spectrum Force."

Jocelyn held up her hand, revealing her ring. "We each have a ring like this, that transforms us into an Enforcer. We each have a different color; not unlike you guys, actually. There're six of us, and we've each been assigned a color of the rainbow: red, orange… that's me… yellow, green, blue, and purple."

"So there aren't any Power Rangers in your world?" Zack asked.

"Nope. Not that I know of, anyway."

"AND THE DENEBIANS YOU BATTLE, ARE THEY VERSED IN MAGIC?"

"I don't know if they all are, but the empress Phaedra definitely is. She even took over my body once, if you'd believe it."

"And what about this 'princess' you mentioned?" Tommy asked, "What's she capable of?"

Jocelyn grimaced. "I don't know; this is the first time we met her. She's pretty small for a warrior, but she's tough as nails in a fight. When we got to the North Pole, she was just waiting for us."

"When Kim and I got to the Pole, there was no one there; only the portal we found," Tommy informed the others. "That must mean the point of origin was in her reality."

"That makes sense," Jocelyn agreed. "Spectra, that's our mentor, she said she never saw anything quite like the portal we saw. I mean, it didn't look all that special, but the cave was a total mess, and there was this really creepy carving on the ground filled with blood."

Zack winced. "Ugh. Definitely doesn't sound like the kind of magic I

want to come across."

"WAS THIS CARVING DIRECTLY BENEATH THE PORTAL?"

"Yes, it was!"

"Do you know what it means, Zordon?" Trini wondered, her voice hopeful.

"THE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THE DENEBIAN PRINCESS INTENTIONALLY OPENED THE PORTAL THROUGH A RITUAL OF SOME SORT. HOWEVER, I CANNOT SEE WHY SHE WOULD CREATE A PORTAL TO SEND JOCELYN HERE."

"Yeah, that doesn't make sense," Alexis murmured. "I mean, if she wanted to banish the entire Force, why didn't she send them all through?"

"Well, she didn't exactly send

me through," Jocelyn admitted. "I think it was my fault. I got too close to the portal voluntarily."

"That's what Kim did!" Tommy added urgently. "The portal just suddenly reacted to her."

"It's more than just proximity," Billy hypothesized. "Otherwise you would've passed through as well, Tommy."

"Unless proximity is required on both sides?" Trini wondered. "It sounds like both Jocelyn and Kim got too close, and together their presence activated the portal."

"I tried to jump

through; you can't get closer than that," Tommy pointed out. "And Jocelyn said her teammates were with her. They must've reacted the same way I did."

"Look, we've established that Kim and I look alike," Jocelyn stated, "so maybe this portal only makes even exchanges? Let's say Kim and I are

more or less the same person, on whatever cosmic level that applies here. Then the only way anyone else can pass through is if their… 'equivalent', for lack of a better term, also touches the portal at the exact same time."

"Sounds like a pretty useless portal," Zack realized, "I mean, let's say this princess wanted to banish someone to an alternate dimension. What're the odds that person's double happens to be walking by? In the North Pole, of all places?"

"PERHAPS THE INTER-DIMENSIONAL PORTAL IS A SECONDARY FUNCTION," Zordon surmised. "THE SPELL THAT CREATED THE PORTAL MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER, MORE SEVERE EFFECT."

Jocelyn's eyes widened. "Like what?"

"UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO DETERMINE ANYTHING ABOUT THE INTENTION OF THE SPELL."

"I could go back to the North Pole," Tommy suggested. "Maybe there's something I missed?"

"THE STORM CONTINUES TO INTERFERE WITH OUR SENSOR RELAYS, AND MAKES TELEPORTATION IMPOSSIBLE. I WILL NOT SEND YOU BLINDLY TO THE POLE. WE CANNOT PREDICT WHAT MAY HAVE MANIFESTED THERE SINCE YOU LEFT."

"The portal closed, though." Tommy argued.

"JUST BECAUSE THE WINDOW HAD VANISHED FROM THE VISIBLE SPECTRUM DOES NOT MEAN THERE ISN'T STILL A CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR TWO WORLDS. UNLESS IT WAS INTENTIONALLY CLOSED FROM THE OTHER END, IT IS LIKELY TO STILL EXIST… AND POSE A DANGER TO ANY WHO EXPLORE THAT CAVERN."

"Then we should wait until the storm calms down," Jason decided. "Better to be safe than sorry. We can all teleport to the cave, and make a quick exit if we find something we can't deal with."

"Fine," Tommy sighed. "Then what do we do in the meantime?"

"It is

a school night," Alpha commented.

"What about Kim?" Trini wondered.

"Well, if I'm here, then it's only logical that Kimberly materialized in my world," Jocelyn pointed out. "I'm sure my friends took care of her."

"We don't know that for sure," Tommy groused. "Zordon, you even admitted you don't know what this portal is supposed to do."

"YOU ARE CORRECT, TOMMY. HOWEVER, A PROPER ANALYSIS OF THE READINGS WE HAVE SO FAR COLLECTED WILL TAKE SEVERAL HOURS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR YOU TO REMAIN HERE DURING THAT TIME. YOU SHOULD RETURN TO YOUR HOMES AND GET THE PROPER REST."

Alexis suddenly gasped. "Guys, we've got the PSATs in the morning! Wow, I totally forgot!"

Jocelyn's eyes widened as she stared at each of the Rangers in turn. "You guys are in high school?"

Tommy glanced at her. "Why? How old are you?"

"Eighteen… and I'm the youngest on the Force!" She frowned, obviously thunderstruck. "I mean, how do you do

it? Sneak off the save the world when you've got classes that actually take attendance and parents to deal with every day?"

"We manage," Zack understated with a casual shrug.

"Barely," Alexis sighed.

"But this time, it's going to be tough," Trini realized with a thoughtful pout. "Kim's gone, and the absolute earliest we'll see her again is tomorrow. Mrs. Hart will go ballistic if she doesn't come home tonight."

"Trini, call her and ask if Kim can stay overnight at your house," Zack suggested. "We've tried that before."

"But this is a school night, and we have an exam tomorrow morning," Jason responded, shaking his head. "Mrs. Hart won't agree to a sleepover; she'll insist that Kim come home tonight."

Then, an idea seemed to strike Trini, Zack, and Jason at once. Three pairs of eyes slid towards Jocelyn, their gazes calculating.

The Orange Enforcer took a step back. "You're joking…"

"You look enough like Kim to pull it off," Trini answered, stepping closer to the startled stranger. "Same height, same build, exact same face… just your hair and eyes are a little light. Mrs. Hart might not even pay much attention."

"I'm sure she'd notice I'm not her daughter!"

"Only if she spends some time with you," Jason countered. "I mean, it's not like she's expecting

a substitute. Just go home and tell her you're going to sleep early so you're rested for the test."

Jocelyn blinked. "Wait… you want me to actually take

Kim's PSATs? Isn't that cheating?"

Zack grinned impishly. "It's not like they really count for anything… besides, how'd you do on your PSAT?"

"I don't remember, but I got a 1380 on the SAT last year."

"Wow," the Black Ranger murmured. "Okay then, just try not to do that

well. Kim's a good student, but she's not that

good."

"But… I don't know anything about this world, or you guys, or Kim's life!" Jocelyn persisted. "How can I masquerade as her?"

"We can advise you on the most critical elements of Kimberly's school day," Billy proposed. "Tomorrow would be an optimal day for such an attempt, since the PSAT will take up the morning. You will only have to attend homeroom and the afternoon classes, and I believe at least one of us is in each of those classes."

"It won't work," Tommy decided. Everyone turned to their leader, who stood beside the Viewing Globe separated from them all. "She may look like Kim, but she's not Kim… and she can't just become

Kim. Somebody's going to notice that 'Kim' is acting weird. She won't recognize people, or know what's going on in class, or even know the combination to her locker. Even her voice is different! And don't forget her appearance… somebody will

notice."

"Then maybe a wig… or some hair dye?" Trini suggested.

"Hey

!" Jocelyn growled. "I'm not dying my hair!"

"Well, if anyone asks, we could always say Kim dyed her hair," Billy pointed out. "She does have a penchant for adjusting her hair color and style every now and then."

"If I tie my hair up, it might not be as noticeable," Jocelyn contributed, holding her hair in a bun to demonstrate. "The ends are lighter because of the sun."

Trini grinned. "So does that mean you're in?"

The Orange Enforcer sighed. "I sure don't like it… but so long as I don't have to fundamentally change my appearance, I guess I can try it." She then turned to Zordon. "But you'll keep us informed the minute

that polar storm eases? I'd like to see what's going on up there myself."

Zordon smirked at her somewhat demanding tone. "TO THE EXTENT IT IS PRACTICAL, YES. I WON'T INTERRUPT YOUR EXAMINATION IF I CAN HELP IT."

"I guess that's fair." Jocelyn released another heavy sigh, and glanced at each of the Rangers once again. "So, which one of you will take me 'home'?"

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sitting so close to her, watching her through the rearview mirror, he couldn't ignore the differences even if he'd wanted to.

Her hair's way too light… it's almost blonde. Kim would never dye her hair blonde. She might lighten it a little… but this is too drastic. And her eyes are all wrong; they're almost green. Not like Kim's… not at all.

He couldn't explain why it made him so uncomfortable, seeing this girl that looked so much like his girlfriend. When he first brought her to the Command Center, he'd tried to come up with explanations to her altered appearance. He hadn't even considered the idea that she wasn't even Kim.

Then, when she transformed and turned the infirmary upside down, Tommy had been outraged. At first, he thought this being had somehow followed Kimberly, and abducted her once again. But then, he couldn't rule out the color of her hair billowing beneath vibrant orange energy.

The girl in orange was the girl he'd brought from the North Pole. Meaning… he'd abandoned Kim.

It was too unsettling to ponder. Was there anything

he could've done to find Kim? Did he miss some critical clue? Did he leave too soon? What if the portal only vanished temporarily, just to reappear later? What if Kimberly materialized a little later? It wasn't impossible

for Kim to fall back through, right?

Had he known

that the girl wasn't Kim… would he have left that cave? Or would he have lingered, desperate to find the woman he loved?

If he'd stayed, Jocelyn would have died. It was a simple fact. Even as it was she'd suffered from hypothermia… had he fully investigated the cave, or delayed in any other way, she might not have recovered.

At least Jocelyn had

recovered. That's one life that didn't weigh on his shoulders. But that didn't do much to ease his anxiety. Kimberly was out there somewhere… and instead of trying to find her, they were trying to return to normal life. They were asking Jocelyn to fill Kim's shoes, as if those shoes were so easily filled.

"So, this is Kim, huh?" Jocelyn murmured from the seat behind him.

Tommy glanced again at the rearview mirror, noticing the sleeve of photographs she'd found. They were the photographs Kim had gotten developed just that afternoon.

"Yeah, that's Kim," Trini answered from beside her, "And the pirate there is Tommy."

"Great costumes," Jocelyn murmured, flipping to another image. "You guys look like you had a great time. I guess it was Halloween?"

"Right. We'd had a Halloween Ball on Friday."

Jocelyn blinked. "You mean this passed Friday? Wow… that's so weird! It's February in my dimension."

"I wonder if that's meaningful? We should tell Zordon about it tomorrow when we get a status update. Oh, here's a shot with some other people you should know," Trini added, sifting through photographs. "Here are Bulk and Skull, they tend to be a little obnoxious…"

Tommy's gaze lingered on Jocelyn until he finally forced his attention back to the road. When the question rose of who would escort Jocelyn to Kimberly's house, Tommy had almost flatly refused. But it was simply too logical: Kimberly had left her purse in his car that afternoon, immediately before leaving on their fateful mission to the North Pole. Either way Jocelyn had to make a stop at Tommy's car to collect Kim's essentials. And with Trini along for the ride, who better to provide Jocelyn with all the basic information she'd need?

Despite Tommy's initial resistance, the rest of the team was convinced this Kim look-alike could pull it off. Before the White Ranger's protests could become vehement, Jason had taken him aside, and offered his own two cents in private.

"Tommy, we're doing this for Kim. We'll find her; it's only a matter of time. But realistically, we don't know how much

time. Zordon and Alpha are doing all they can to track her down, but in the meantime, we have to do what we can to make things easier for Kim when she gets back. Jocelyn's willing to try it out, and if this works, when Kim does return she won't have to worry about panicking parents or missed exams. She'll be glad we did it."

Jason did have a point. Jocelyn was doing Kimberly a favor by keeping control over the more mundane elements in the Pink Ranger's life. The least he could do was help Jocelyn out… right?

But it still felt so wrong

.

"Here we are," Tommy murmured, pulling his Jeep to the curb in front of the modest townhouse Kimberly and her mother shared.

"Tommy, Mrs. Hart's car isn't here," Trini noted, gazing out the window at the empty driveway. "And the lights aren't on."

"So?"

"So, maybe we can give Jocelyn a little tour? It could only help things."

Tommy couldn't argue that. So he shut off the engine, and climbed out of the driver's seat.

Jocelyn followed the pair to the door, and frowned when Tommy held his hand to her.

"What?"

"You've got the key. In Kim's purse."

"Oh, right." Jocelyn dug out the house key, and a moment later Tommy flicked the switch, illuminating the small but stylishly decorated home.

Tommy and Trini led the way, Tommy entering the kitchen while Trini went to turn on the lights in the den. Tommy glanced at the answering machine, and activated it.

"There's a message," he explained.

Soon, the voice of Caroline Hart projected from the machine. ^Hi, honey, it's me. I guess you're still out, but I wanted you to know that I'll be going for a drink with Gerard. I may be back late. I'll see your in the morning.^

"Who's Gerard?" Jocelyn wondered.

"Kim's parents are divorced. I've never heard of 'Gerard' before, but I guess he's Caroline's most recent… uh… interest."

Tommy then turned to the cabinets, and began pointing out features of the small kitchen. "Here's the flatware, cups and dishes, and here's the cereals and snack foods. Kim doesn't drink coffee, by the way, so Caroline will definitely notice if you do."

"No coffee?" Jocelyn repeated with a grimace. "Wow."

"Kim usually walks to school when the weather's nice, but sometimes I pick her up. So I'll be at the door at seven-thirty."

He then led her to the stairs. "There're three bedrooms, but one of them Caroline has set up as a home office. She's a staff writer for a women's magazine. You know, clothes, makeup, the arts… that stuff."

Jocelyn nodded, trying her best to capture all the details.

"Kim's room is the second door on the left. The first door is a closet, and the bathroom is directly across."

"You really know your way around here, don't you?" Jocelyn commented innocently.

Tommy bit his lip, turning away.

Jocelyn noticed the silence, and her eyes widened when she reached a conclusion. A conclusion that explained a lot about the White Ranger's behavior.

"Oh

…" was all she said.

Thankfully, Trini emerged from Kim's bedroom and dissolved the awkward air. "Here, I've written you a list of all our home numbers. Feel free to call me if you have any questions, or need anything. Kim has her own phone line, by the way."

"Thanks," Jocelyn murmured, taking the index card. "So how can I get in touch with Zordon?"

"We have communicators that link us to each other, and the Command Center," Trini explained, holding up her wristwatch. "But we don't have one for you, so if you need to talk to Zordon, you'll have to let us know."

"I can live with that."

"So, is there anything else you need?" Trini asked.

Jocelyn shook her head, and tried her best to smile. "No, I think I'm situated."

"Okay, then we'll see you tomorrow." Trini then wrapped the startled Orange Enforcer in a warm hug. "And thank you for helping Kim like this."

The friendly gesture helped ease Jocelyn's growing discomfort. "Sure."

She then waved to Tommy, and watched as the two Rangers headed out the door. She stood in the hallway, listening as the car pulled away into the night.

She was alone in Kimberly's house.

The strength just seemed to flow from Jocelyn's limbs as she dragged herself into the bedroom Tommy indicated. She switched on the light, and released a tired sigh.

Kimberly's bedroom.

The room was spacious and neat, with pink frills and stuffed animals adding a sense of cheer and innocence that threw the Orange Enforcer for a loop. On the dresser stood over a dozen framed photographs, and on the shelf propped above the bed rested several photo albums.

"This Kim is a real shutterbug," she realized, browsing through the framed images first. Kimberly and the other Rangers at the park. At the beach. At a football game. At a fair. Kimberly wearing a flaring miniskirt, holding pom-poms.

"Oh God… she's a cheerleader

? I'm doomed…"

She shook her head in remorse, setting the photograph back on the dresser. Then, her eyes were drawn to another photograph, oddly dark when compared to the other pictures with bright colors and settings.

Kimberly, wearing a floor-length graduation gown and matching cap. At and her sides were two adults, the man dressed in a neat charcoal suit, and the woman wearing a black skirt and understated burgundy blouse.

"This must be Kim's middle-school graduation. And these are her parents."

It was particularly odd seeing this image of Kim's parents. Jocelyn hadn't really given it thought, but looking at them now she realized that she had expected them to look like her parents.

Admittedly, there were some similarities. Julian Armand did match Mr. Hart in approximate height and build, and the overall coloring was just about right. Though Julian's shape of face was wholly different. At best, they could pass for cousins, but really there was little resemblance.

Caroline Hart was slender and elegant, which differed greatly from Nancy Armand's less feminine ways. Nancy was heavier set, and significantly taller. Plus, her fair, freckled complexion, bright green eyes, and strawberry blonde hair provided a stark contrast to Caroline's darker coloring. And yet, something about the shape of their eyes and jaw was strikingly similar.

"This is all just too weird

," Jocelyn huffed, setting the photograph back on the dresser.

She made her way to Kim's neatly made bed, and stared at it for a few moments. She didn't have the heart to remove the arrangement of stuffed critters… but surely Mrs. Hart would be perplexed if her 'daughter' slept on the floor in her own bedroom.

"It's no big deal," Jocelyn reminded herself, setting the decorations on the chair beside the bed. "It's just a bed. I need to sleep somewhere

."

She uncovered a frilly pink nightgown beneath a pillow, and her eyebrow rose. "No way in hell

," she groused. "My Dreiser shirt will just have to do."

She pulled off her worn sneakers and loose-fitting jeans, set them neatly under the bed, climbed under the pale pink sheets, and turned off the light.

Jocelyn stared at the ceiling, trying to fall asleep by sheer force of will.

Part Three

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Langstrum Alps

With a faint click, an over-enthusiastic voice shattered the silence of the dark bedroom.

^…here in southern California. The mild temperatures and sunny skies are expected to extend into Thursday, when some moisture from the Pacific will bring showers, highs near sixty degrees…^

Rachel stretched from the comfort of her blankets, blinking away deep sleep as she reached for the clock radio.

It was still dark outside, and it would remain dark for a good three hours more. Then, at ten she had class, followed by a lunch break and then another class, culminating in three hours at Givens and Clark law firm, where she worked as an intern.

It was almost a typical schedule for a typical college student; with the exception of the five-hour shift she had monitoring Earth from an alien ship hovering in the stratosphere, which started promptly at four a.m.

There was no point in mourning the loss of half the night's rest. The sleep would be missed, making a typical day a challenge to complete. It was just one of the sacrifices she'd been willing to make when Spectra offered her the chance to be a defender of Earth.

Sliding out of her bed, she slipped her feet into fuzzy slippers to ward off the pre-dawn chill, and pulled her bathrobe over her sleepshirt. Typically, she wouldn't bother with such modesty… but now, there was a stranger in the apartment.

A stranger with the face of one of her dearest friends.

A different kind of chill swept the Purple Enforcer at the thought. She wrapped her robe tighter as she wondered what had happened to Jocelyn. What kind of reality was she trapped in? Could she summon the protective power of the orange Spectrum Stone, or was she completely helpless? Was she at the mercy of these so-called 'Power Rangers'? What were they really

like?

The possibilities were endless, and most were terrifying. After all, why would Princess Celea banish Jocelyn into a benign universe? There must be some threat there that put Jocelyn in danger. There must be something that Kimberly didn't tell them.

And then there was the dilemma their visitor's presence created. What were they to do with this girl from another reality? At that moment, the stranger with a familiar face slept in their apartment. Hopefully

she slept… unless she was busy plotting her escape so she could report to Celea whatever reconnaissance she'd collected.

They'd taken what precautions they could. Keith had volunteered to spend the night at their apartment, keeping an eye on matters. But knowing Keith, he'd probably fallen asleep hours ago, and nothing short of a fire alarm could rouse him.

Her eyes narrowing with fresh anxiety, Rachel opened the door and stepped out of her room, intending to check in on Jocelyn's room. But when she stepped into the common room, she stared in surprise at the lone figure sitting on the couch, staring at the flashing television screen like a zombie.

And it wasn't Keith. He lay on the carpet, snoring softly.

"Kimberly? What are you doing up?"

Kim turned, offering Rachel a tired smile. "I couldn't sleep. I couldn't get comfortable."

That certainly made sense. Especially when one gave a thought to Kimberly's situation. Stranded in an alternate dimension, powerless, surrounded by hostile warriors, with no guarantee that she could ever get home.

Rachel felt the stirring of sympathy, and squashed it immediately. She couldn't afford to feel bad for this stranger. The Denebians had proven that no tactic was beneath them. Kimberly could still

be a spy for the Empire, and she already knew more than Rachel was comfortable with.

She knew the Spectrum Force's faces. That kind of information could make a sneak attack possible, allowing the Denebians to set an ambush outside a class building, or even in their homes…

Kimberly noticed her host's distraction, and chose to fill the silence. "It's funny… you guys have the same networks that we have. CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox… how weird is that? And I caught twenty minutes of 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective'

on the late late movie. Same actors, same jokes."

She rubbed her forehead. "But there are still differences. There is no Angel Grove here. No Stone Canyon. You don't even have Mariner Bay or Silver Hills! But you've got Broadway in New York, Disneyworld in Florida, and the White House in Washington, D.C. But no Angel Grove, Stone Canyon, Mariner Bay, or Silver Hills."

She released a soft laugh that startled Rachel. "I don't even think Billy could figure this one out."

"Billy?" Rachel prompted.

Kim glanced up, apparently surprised by Rachel's interest. But she didn't hesitate to elaborate. "Billy's the Blue Power Ranger, but he's been one of my best friends long before that. He's a real genius; he was even in a Baby Genius program."

Rachel's eyebrow quirked at the oddity of such a program, but didn't interrupt.

"Whenever I get into a jam, I can always count on Billy. He'd always come up with some plan or gizmo to destroy one of Zedd's trickier monsters. He's the one that built this communicator," she revealed, holding up her wrist. "But, I'd be lying if I said all his experiments worked out."

A rueful grin appeared. "This one time, he built a machine that was supposed to let someone read another's mind, and he and I were the guinea pigs. Turns out it switched our minds! I spent a whole day literally

in Billy's shoes, pretending to be a super-genius and failing miserably. That was the weirdest twenty-four hours of my life!"

Her amusement then faded. "Well, assuming this little adventure doesn't last that long."

The sentiment in Kim's words was incredible. Before, she'd spoken at length about floating heads, screeching witches, and evil lords with no skin. But such fanciful stories could easily be fictional, despite Kim's effective storytelling.

But when she spoke about her friends, it was different. There was a love that couldn't be feigned. Her esteem for this 'Billy' gleamed in her eyes. He couldn't be a character in some spun tale of knights in armor. He had to be real.

"I'm making coffee," Rachel stated, making her way to the small kitchenette. "Care for some?"

The offer took Kim by surprise. "No thanks. Coffee is addictive, you know."

Rachel grinned as she measured the water. "Don't I know it, but at least it helps make the all-nighters possible. Trust me, it's tough writing a twelve page report on the Civil Rights Act of '64 at three in the morning without it."

Kim winced. "You're kidding!"

"It comes with the territory, but it's not so bad. This is my fourth year at Dreiser, and so far I've only had to stay up all night for schoolwork three times."

"Were any of them because you had to stay out late saving the world? Because we've gotten into some trouble not getting assignments in on time. Like the time I had to read 'Animal Farm' for English last year, and I kept putting it off and putting it off, thinking I'd just read it that Sunday night, right? Only Rita had other plans…"

Rachel found herself listening to Kimberly's tale avidly, keeping an ear open for any inconsistencies with the information she'd previously provided, or just unusual elements that would put her on alert. But there was nothing outrageous, other than the attack by a freakish lion creature that kept the Power Rangers occupied.

Kimberly Hart just seemed so genuine, causing Rachel Castaneda, wary and suspicious by nature, to let go of some of her distrust.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Angel Grove

A harsh ringing dragged Jocelyn from the obliviousness of deep slumber. Moaning grumpily, she opened one eye and glanced toward the clock.

Blinking, she realized her clock wasn't there

. Neither was the computer desk that sat beside her bed. Instead there was a chair covered with stuffed animals and frilly throw pillows.

"What the hell?" she grumbled, sitting up. The room was cheery and bright, with sunlight pouring through the lacy window treatment to illuminate everything. Pale carpeting, flowers bordering the white walls, photographs lining the dresser... and finally a digital alarm clock, sitting on the right of the bed rather than the left.

"Six-thirty?" she gasped, throwing off the blanket, "I'm late for practice with the Force!"

Then, it all came flooding back. The mission to the North Pole, the strange window of light that sucked her into some sort of alternate world. A world which was defended by the Power Rangers, a team of seven high school students given power from a bodiless intellectual, and aided by a sweet natured robot.

The world of Kimberly Hart.

"This is Kim's room," she reminded herself, rubbing her eyes fiercely to induce some sort of coherence. "I've got to be Kimberly today."

She reached over to shut off the alarm clock.

"I can do this," she murmured, dragging herself out of bed, "I just need some caffeine. Oh hell… Kim's anti-java. Great. And I have a test

to take, don't I?"

Zack had asked her not to try her best on the PSAT she'd be taking on Kim's behalf. Jocelyn doubted she'd be able to concentrate anyway.

"Okay… gotta wake up," she sighed, lightly slapping her cheeks. "Bathroom's across the hall."

She made her way to the bathroom, staring at the floral décor and assortment of beauty products lining the sink.

"Jeez… does everything

here smell like flowers?"

She was still able to figure out which bottles contained the essentials, and then immersed herself in the flow of warm water.

The shower worked wonders, drawing the dazed young woman to her senses. As she shampooed her hair, she reviewed the extensive information Trini and Tommy had relayed to her yesterday. She closed her eyes, visualizing the layout of the house and trying to remember the faces and corresponding names of the Rangers.

It was frightening to imagine how much could go wrong.

Jocelyn reminded herself that the charade was only for one day. She'd pretend to be Kimberly Hart, take the PSAT in her stead, endure the rest of her day's classes, and immediately report to the Command Center and find out the status of their analysis.

"Okay, one day of high school. I can do this…"

She shut off the water, and wrapped herself in a fresh towel. She gathered her discarded clothes and returned to Kimberly's bedroom, where she faced another problem.

What to wear?

Obviously, a rumpled shirt and worn jeans would be a poor choice. Not only were her clothes wrinkled and less than fresh, but they obviously weren't Kimberly's style.

Which means, I need something pink.

She pulled open the closet, and her jaw dropped in unabashed shock.

Holy cow… did she always love pink, or did she buy a whole new wardrobe when she became a Power Ranger?

She sifted through a myriad of breezy dresses, intolerably short shorts and mid-drift baring tops, her glare intensifying with each article of shamelessly flirty clothing she pushed aside.

"Finally!" she sighed, pulling a pair of jeans off a hangar. At least they covered her legs… but upon closer inspection, she realized she'd never get them zipped.

A rueful smirk appeared. "Of course my nigh-identical twin would be a size four. Just

what my self-esteem needed."

She slipped the jeans back on the hangar, and returned to the section of the closet devoted to flirty dresses.

"At least they don't cling like a second skin," she reasoned, selecting a white cotton dress with small pink flowers. It was loose-fitting, meaning a strong breeze would reveal much more than she cared to.

"Which would explain all these spandex micro shorts," she realized, pulling out a pale pink pair. "Eh, good enough."

Half an hour later she was fully dressed and ready for her day. She'd found a blow dryer at Kim's vanity, as well as a nice faux pearl barrette just the right size to clip her hair back in a twist that would hopefully draw people's attention away from the honey blonde highlights.

At a quarter after seven she hurried down the stairs, chewing her lip nervously as she tried to recall what taking the PSAT had been like.

"There you are! I was just about to come drag you down for breakfast!"

Jocelyn blinked at the woman standing in the kitchen, digging through the closet. "Breakfast is getting cold."

"Breakfast?" she repeated, sitting at a stool beside the small kitchen table. Mrs. Hart placed a plate in front of her, and a jar of honey.

"Pancakes with strawberries… your favorite."

"Wow," she muttered, staring at the short stack while trying to hide her dismay. Wonderful… I guess Kimberly doesn't share my allergies.

"You need a good breakfast so you can ace that exam," Kim's mother stated, setting a glass of orange juice to complete the meal. "I've got a conference call with Paris at nine, so I'm leaving early. I'll see you when I get home tonight."

She leaned over to kiss her daughter's cheek, only freeze in place.

Jocelyn held her breath as the older woman drew back. "What's wrong?"

"When did you get contact lenses? And when did you color your hair??"

Oh no… I forgot about the eyes!

"Uh… yesterday. I wanted to try a different look."

Jocelyn winced at the lameness of her excuse, but she noticed Caroline's surprise slowly melt into amusement.

"Well, be careful with contacts, Kim. You should only wear them for a few hours at a time until you get used to them. And next time you want to color your hair, I'll take you to my salon. I thought you liked the auburn Oscar put in last time."

"It's just an experiment," Jocelyn responded.

"Actually, it didn't come out badly," Caroline admitted, pulling a lock of hair out of the barrette and examining it closely. "It's a very natural shade. It'll look great over the summer."

She then kissed Jocelyn's cheek, and took her car keys from the table. "Good luck on your test, Kim!"

"Bye Mom!" Jocelyn called with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. The moment the door closed, she stared back at her plate, and scraped the strawberries off the pancake.

"At least there aren't strawberries in the batter," Jocelyn realized, drawing her knife through and eyeing the moist inside carefully. She took off the top pancake just to be safe, and ate the other one with one eye on the clock.

At exactly seven-thirty, a white Jeep appeared on the curb outside. Jocelyn grabbed Kim's backpack and hurried out the door, where Tommy was waiting.

"'Morning, Tommy," she greeted, climbing into the passenger's seat, "right on time!"

Tommy smirked, but Jocelyn didn't get the joke. "How'd your morning go?"

"First things first. Please

tell me there's a Starbucks on the way to school!"

His eyebrow rose. "Starbucks?"

Jocelyn stared at him. "No Starbucks?" she declared, slumping into her seat. "This must be Hell!"

Chapter Thirty

"Rocky, we're gonna be late!"

The teen flashed a mischievous smirk at the rearview mirror as he parked in the lot beside an unusually quiet strip mall near the border of Stone Canyon and Angel Grove. It was so quiet because the majority of the shops didn't open for business until ten a.m.

Rocky didn't flinch as his glance met the frustrated glare of one of his oldest friends. After growing up together, Aisha was wholly immune to Rocky's easy-going charm.

"We have the PSAT today," she reminded him, folding her arms. "If you'd told me you had to run an errand on the way to school, I would've asked Adam to drive."

"No can do," Adam reminded her from the front seat, "Car's in for service, remember?"

"Will you guys just relax?" Rocky sighed, stepping out the door, "I already called Rico, and he told me he'd be in early today so I can pick up the watch before school. It'll take two seconds, I promise!"

He slammed the door closed before Aisha's impatient sigh could reach his ears. He quickly jogged to the small jewelry store, the bell chiming as he pushed the door open.

Ricardo Vera, first cousin on Rocky's mother's side, was standing behind the counter. He gave the teen a tight grin as Rocky approached the counter.

"Okay Kid," Rico stated, "where the heck

did you get this watch?"

Rocky blinked at the question. "It belongs to a friend of mine. Why?"

"Did you even look at this thing? I've never seen anything like it."

Rocky stared as Rico opened a plastic box, revealing the watch. All the bloodstains had been removed, restoring the silver and purple band to a new shine. Also the clasp had been replaced, and the numbers on the digital watch face had returned.

"The watch is a secondary function," Rico elaborated. "Under the face, most of the components are for something else. It looks like a walkie-talkie, at least in part."

"A walkie-talkie?" Rocky repeated, staring at the watch anew. "That's weird."

"It is," Rico agreed. "And there's some high tech microchips that I can't even begin to guess what they do. Did you get this from a cop? Or some kind of engineer?"

Rocky's mind raced. A space-age walkie-talkie/watch combo? Where did Alexis get this thing? And… who does she use this thing to communicate with?

"Rocky?"

The teen snapped out of his thoughts and gave his cousin a quick smile. "Oh, sorry," he mumbled, "I was just thinking. It belongs to one of my friends at school, but… uh… I think her father works at some big-shot tech company back East. She must've got it from him."

Rocky maintained his nonchalance, hoping his fib would appease Rico's curiosity. Finally, the older man shrugged.

"Well, do me a favor; ask your friend if she can get me in touch with her father. Watches like these would sell like hotcakes! Though, the design department definitely needs to put more work into it. Retro sci-fi styles aren't doing well."

"I'm pretty sure this is a prototype, but I'll do what I can. And thanks again for your help."

"Don't thank me," Rico answered, holding out the watch box. "Just remember you're babysitting Friday."

Rocky smirked at the thought of spending a perfectly-good Friday night with his hyperactive ten year-old second cousin, wondering if Alexis would appreciate his efforts to repair her watch… or, watch-like thing.

What is this thing?

Rocky wondered, opening the box while he made his way to his car. His fingers traced seven buttons lining the edges, and his frown deepened.

Images of Halloween night flashed through his head. It was easily the most memorable night of his life: getting paired with Alexis Darling to chaperon a group of eager Trick or Treaters, only for the two dressed as Power Rangers to transform into alien maniacs.

The monsters focused their attack on Alexis, grabbing her while he'd been at a door with the other children. He'd managed to save her, and they'd made an escape into the bushes. But the creatures caught up with them, playing a sadistic form of "tag," and finally knocking Rocky out with one painfully sharp punch.

Rocky winced at the memory, his free hand absently rubbing his stomach.

He had no idea how long he was unconscious, but it was the Purple Ranger that woke him up. And when he'd asked about Alexis, the Purple Ranger informed him that she was at a local hospital.

No wait… I assumed

Alexis was at a hospital. The Purple Ranger said she was 'fine.' And she wouldn't give me any details.

Rocky glanced down at the watch once again, and slowly, his imagination began to conjure ideas that, an hour ago, he wouldn't have considered vaguely possible.

Nah, that's just ridiculous. Alexis isn't a Power Ranger! She's not even a martial artist! But…

she's pretty brave, though. She didn't freak out at all when those monsters attacked us.

The sound of a horn drew Rocky out of his musings.

"You're not counting the cracks on the sidewalk again, are you?" Aisha called through the window.

"Will you relax

?" he laughed, jogging to the car. He slid into the front seat, tossing the box into Adam's lap.

"Take a look at that watch," he suggested, buckling his seatbelt.

Adam's eyebrow quirked as he opened the box. "What about it?"

Aisha followed her friend's gaze, her brow furrowing. "Where'd you get this, Rocky?"

"Alexis. The weird thing is, Rico says he's never seen anything like it."

"It does look pretty weird," Adam admitted, tapping the green cover. "I think I've seen one before. I don't remember where, though."

"I'm gonna find out where it came from," Rocky announced, taking the watch from Adam. Steering with his knees, he slid the watch onto his wrist, and snapped it secure.

Aisha stared at the device warily. "Why don't you just give it back to Alexis? Wasn't that what you were planning to do?"

"Well, it was," Rocky confessed, "but now I'm curious. Let's see what kind of reaction I'll get out of her when she sees me wearing it."

Adam frowned. "Rocky, maybe you should… well… back off a little. I mean, it looks like Alexis and Jason are-"

"It's not about that," Rocky insisted, waving his hand to dismiss the idea. "I just have some questions, and I'd like some answers. That's all."

Adam shook his head, clearly not buying Rocky's excuse. "Hey Aisha, have you seen a watch like this before? You're the Queen of Accessories."

Aisha bit her lip. "I don't know… I don't think so," she answered noncommittally.

She then turned to stare out the window, and her discomfort brought a puzzled frown to Adam's face.

Chapter Thirty-One

Fifteen minutes and a sixteen-ounce dose of French Roast later, Jocelyn stood at the threshold of Angel Grove High School. The steps were bustling with students, talking animatedly about the weekend's activities, Friday's dance, and the exam the junior class was about to take.

Tossing the empty Quick Stop cup into a trash bin, Jocelyn took a slow, calming breath.

Tommy loomed beside her, watching her nervously finger the shoulder strap of Kim's backpack. "Ready for this?" he whispered.

"Piece of cake," she responded. While the words were confident, her voice was anything but that.

After a few moments of debate, Tommy's sense of logic won out over his discomfort. He reached out his hand to Jocelyn.

"Just follow my lead, okay?"

Jocelyn's gaze leapt from Tommy's offered hand to his solemn face. "You don't have to-"

"We have to keep up appearances," he pointed out. "Just follow my lead, keep your talking to a minimum, and relax. You'll do fine."

Taking another deep breath, Jocelyn took his hand.

Tommy led her through the crowds, throwing waves and greetings at all sides. Jocelyn waved and smiled at everyone who made eye contact with her, trying her best to imitate the "popular cheerleader" persona she assumed Kimberly must have embodied.

Shortly, Tommy stopped at a locker. "Stay with me."

Jocelyn nodded, watching as he opened his locker and began exchanging the contents with those in his backpack.

"After Trini and I left you, we got back in touch with the others," he murmured. "We worked out a plan that should get us through the day. Just remember this: you're coming down with a cold, and your voice is scratchy. So don't talk unless you have to, and try to talk like you're losing your voice."

"Good idea," Jocelyn admitted, a small smile brightening her face. I just might pull this off after all!

"You only came in today to take the PSAT. So if we don't find Kim today, you can skip school tomorrow and hang out at the Command Center. It probably won't come to that, but just in case."

"Got it."

Tommy continued fumbling through the contents of his locker, and Jocelyn finally realized that he kept moving the same books between the locker and his bag.

"What are you doing?"

"Killing time until the others show up." Tommy glanced up at the wall clock, and grimaced. "They should get here soon."

"Hey guys!" a cheerful called. Jocelyn turned, and smiled as Alexis approached, with Jason at her shoulder.

"How'd you two make out?" Tommy asked.

Alexis smirked, pulling a folder from her backpack. "James Bond better eat his heart out."

Jocelyn accepted the file, and flipped through its contents. Her eyes widened in shock. "Is this…?"

"Kim's private record," Jason confirmed.

"But how?"

"Jase and I snuck into the main office last night and made a few copies," Alexis whispered. "Luckily the school hasn't installed video cameras, or we would've had a hard time explaining what the Red and Purple Rangers were doing in the file room."

"We only copied what we thought was critical," Jason explained. "Social Security number, birth date, address, current schedule, locker assignment. You might need some of this stuff to fill in the Personal Information part of the PSAT."

"Now that we have the combination to Kim's locker, we can head over there," Tommy decided, closing his locker. The group migrated across the hall, and Jocelyn's fingers hovered at the combination on the designated locker as Tommy read her the numbers.

She sighed in relief as the door creaked open, revealing the contents.

"Do I need anything in here?"

"Probably not," Jason admitted, "but you might want to fix your hair."

Jocelyn's hands rose to the nape of her neck. "Did it fall out?"

"You look fine," Alexis assured the nervous girl. "It's just part of Kim's routine."

"Oookay," Jocelyn sighed, peering into the small mirror and toying with her forelocks.

"Hey gang," another voice called. Jocelyn looked in her mirror, and smiled as Zack approached.

"Any luck?" Jason wondered.

"Zordon said the storm has slowed down, and he's scanning more easily. But there's still some weirdness up at the Pole, which means that the portal, or at least a remnant, is still floating around."

Jocelyn's grin widened. "Thank God for that!"

"We're all gonna check it out after school," Zack informed the group. "Zordon said he'll keep us posted if anything particularly weird pops up in the meantime."

"Sounds like a plan," Alexis agreed. "Then let's book it to homeroom; that's where the test will be held."

"Who's in Kim's homeroom?" Jason wondered.

"Me and Billy," Alexis confirmed. "Where is he, anyway?"

"Over there," Zack noted, waving him and Trini over. The two remaining Rangers wove through the crowded halls, and met the group.

"Jocelyn, I hope your eyes aren't too sensitive," Billy began, pulling a small plastic case from his pocket.

"I don't think so," she informed him, taking the small, two-compartment container. She slowly unscrewed the cap.

"Brown contact lenses?"

"Just to complete the illusion," Trini explained. "Billy can show you how to put them on."

Jocelyn frowned. "Not here he can't. This mirror's too small, and he can't come with me to the girls' room."

"The biology laboratory has a full sink and mirror, and it should be empty," Billy explained. "We'll get these lenses in, and I'll bring you to homeroom."

Jocelyn nodded, closing Kimberly's locker. She grinned at the other Rangers, holding Kim's file tightly. "Wish me luck!"

Trini smiled warmly. "You'll do fine. And thanks again for helping us out."

Tommy leaned against the lockers, watching Billy lead Jocelyn down the hall. "You guys think this will work?"

"I'll be keeping my fingers crossed," Zack responded, glancing again at the clock. "We'd better move it, or we can add detention to our list of problems."

The group waved their farewells and separated, hurrying to homeroom while trying to turn their thoughts away from their predicament with Kimberly and Jocelyn, and back to the subjects at hand: language and mathematics.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Aisha winced as she watched Rocky adjust the band of Alexis' watch-like device. The band was uncomfortably small for him, but he hadn't been able to figure out how to expand it. Also, the deep purple streaks decorating the silver band looked awful beside the scarlet of his shirt.

Of course, it would match perfectly with the largely purple wardrobe of the Purple Power Ranger.

Once a person knew who the Rangers were, recognizing the machine wasn't difficult. Aisha noticed the same unit on Zack and Kim's wrists, and each was color-coded. But what Aisha didn't

know was what the unit actually did. What if it was a weapon? What if Rocky accidentally activated it?

What could she do about it? On the one hand, if she didn't get that thing off Rocky, he could hurt himself. But on the other, she'd promised not to reveal the Rangers' identities.

I've got to tell him the truth,

she realized, glancing down at her interlaced fingers. Hopefully Zordon will understand. If Rocky disappears, or turns into a monster, or blows himself up, or does whatever

that thing does, it'll be my fault. She grimaced. It's not like Rocky can't keep a secret. I mean, what's the harm in letting him know? So long as he swears

to keep his mouth shut.

She glanced up as the door opened, and Alexis walked into the classroom. Since she sat near the front, and Aisha and Rocky sat in the back two seats due to their mid-semester transfer, Alexis probably didn't even know they were there.

But Rocky didn't simply sit in his seat and wait. Instead, he rose to his feet, and strolled right to Alexis' desk.

"Hey Lex?"

Alexis glanced up from her backpack, postponing her search for her calculator. She met Rocky's deep brown gaze, and smiled warmly.

"What's up, Rocky?"

"Do you by any chance have an extra #2 pencil? I must've left mine in my locker."

"You're in luck, DeSantos," she answered with a smirk. She opened the outer pocket of the bag, and pulled out two extra pencils. "Don't leave home without 'em."

"You're a life-saver," Rocky commented, reaching out his left hand. Alexis moved to lay the pencils in his palm, when her eyes fell upon his watch.

Her jaw dropping, she let the pencils fall to the floor.

Rocky hid a triumphant smirk by bending to pick up the pencils. "You okay? You might want to get that depth-perception checked; you missed my hand by a good half a foot!"

Alexis shook herself. "Uh, sorry… I just remembered something I have to do."

"Now? The bell rings in less than a minute-"

But Alexis was already out the door.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Dammit, dammit, dammit!

Alexis lamented, hurrying down the mostly-empty hallway. How could I be so stupid??

She skidded to a halt when she finally found Billy and Jocelyn. The latter was blinking furiously, occasionally rubbing her eyes as she got accustomed to the lenses that transformed her eyes into the soft brown that mirrored Kimberly's.

"Billy, we've got a problem," Alexis gasped.

Jocelyn looked alarmed. "Another one?"

"What's wrong?" Billy pressed.

Alexis lifted her wrist. "Remember the communicator I had before this one? The one I lost when the Misfits attacked last week? Well… Rocky DeSantos found it."

Billy grimaced. "Then our communications with the Command Center may be compromised. We need to determine whether or not it's functional."

Just then, the bell rang.

"We'll have to deal with it later," Billy decided, heading towards homeroom. "Zordon said he wouldn't interrupt the test, so hopefully we can reach him before he sends out a signal."

"But I lost it last week! Zordon's already contacted us since then. If my old communicator is still on the network, Rocky may have heard everything

!"

Billy rubbed his chin. "Did Rocky give you any inclination that he knew anything? Did he make any double entendres?"

"Any what

?"

"Did he say anything that might have a double meaning, that suggests he knows who you are?" Jocelyn elaborated.

Alexis swore under her breath. "Yes! He called me a life-saver when I gave him a pencil!"

Billy laid a hand on her shoulder. "Alexis, there's nothing we can do about it now. Let's just take this test. I'll contact Zordon as soon as the period is over. Okay?"

The trio stepped into the homeroom, where Ms. Applebee was already distributing copies of the examination.

"Now that we're all here

," she answered pointedly, "we can begin the overview of instructions."

Jocelyn felt her cheeks burn as she made her way to the seat Billy indicated, trying her best to ignore the stares of the rest of the class. Soon she sank into the hard plastic chair, clenching her fists to keep her fingers from shaking.

I can do this, I can do this…

Then, a test landed on her desk. "Kimberly, are you all right?"

Jocelyn held her breath as she looked up, and met the teacher's worried gaze.

"You look a little pale, and your eyes are red."

Jocelyn cleared her suddenly clogged throat, remembering Tommy's instructions from earlier. "I've got a cold," she explained, her voice raw.

Ms. Applebee only nodded, patting her shoulder. "Let me know if you need some air, okay?"

"Thanks."

The teacher continued distributing exam booklets, reciting the instructions for everyone. Jocelyn settled in her seat, grasping her pencil tightly as she carefully filled in the personal data.

Then, the time came to tear open the exam booklets, and Jocelyn's eyes fell to the first question. A small smirk forming, she filled in the answer, and proceeded to the next one.

Her confidence soared as she turned the page, long before anyone else in the class. Kim's making out like a bandit on this one!

Chapter Thirty-Four

Langstrum Alps

"Hello? Anyone here?"

Rachel pushed open the front door, tossing her jacket on the couch as she scanned the small apartment.

"Tammy? Kim?"

Her face gradually fell as she opened each of the three bedrooms, and found no one in sight. By the time she searched the bathroom and hall closet, she was positively thunderous.

"I should've known

she wouldn't be able to resist!" she sighed, tearing the receiver off the kitchen phone. Tense fingers stabbed a familiar phone number as she began breathing deliberately, hoping to rein in her temper before she found her wayward roommate.

Chapter Thirty-Five

"That's adorable!" both girls squealed in harmony. Kimberly and Tamara turned away from the baby doll T-shirt that had drawn both their praise, and exchanged a startled glance.

Then, they both giggled.

"This is so much fun!" Tamara sighed, pulling the shirt off the rack. "Jocie can be such a bore at the mall, and Ray has absolutely no patience to enjoy shopping as an art form."

Kim grinned, watching as Tamara posed in front of a mirror. "I know what you mean. My best friend just isn't a big shopper. Lately I've been dragging Tommy, but I can tell he'd rather be anywhere

than a department store."

Tamara rolled her eyes. "Well, taking Keith to the mall is even worse than the others. He loves shopping even more than I do!"

Kim's eyes widened as she looked to the bags hanging from Tamara's wrist. "Really?"

"Really. He's been adding to his collection of Calvin Klein cotton shirts. I mean seriously, even I have my limits! I think he's up to twenty-eight. Stripes, solids, V-neck, collared… you name it, he's got it. I have no idea how he fits all those clothes into his closet!"

Kim couldn't contain her laughter as she imagined Tommy urgently searching through stacks of preppy shirts at Bloomingdale's. "Maybe I should be grateful Tommy'd rather knock the sand out of a punching bag then shop with me."

"Trust me, you get a lot more shopping done when you go by yourself," Tamara noted. "You get to spend as much time as you want in the shoe department without someone hanging over your shoulder."

She then frowned, shaking her head. "Nah, I don't think so. I just don't like the way it falls."

Kim grinned in amusement. "You can tell how it falls just by looking at it?"

"It's one of those skills you pick up when you blitz-shop with Rachel."

Tamara then bit her lip, holding the shirt up in front of Kimberly. "You know, I think it'll look fantastic on you."

Kim's smile turned wry. "And how should I pay for that? With my credit cards and cash, all neatly stuffed in my wallet back in Angel Grove?"

"Oh, right." She glanced at the price tag, and shrugged. "Then it's my treat."

The Pink Ranger shook her head emphatically as Tamara turned toward the nearest cashier. "Tammy, no! I couldn't ask you-"

"Think of it as a souvenir from your visit. You can't leave our universe empty-handed."

Kim gave the shirt another quick once-over. "It doesn't even say 'Langstrum Alps' on it."

"Right. Hmm… let's see if we can find you something at one of those little gift boutiques? Something more… souvenir-ish. And we'll throw in the top, too. It's adorable, and it's thirty percent off!"

Kim laughed. "Far be it for me to turn down a bargain."

As the pair took their place at a register, a ring from Tamara's purse drew Kim's attention. "Is that a communicator?" she whispered.

Tamara shrugged. "We usually just call it a phone, but it serves the same purpose." She pulled the small cell phone from the outer pocket, and rolled her eyes at the caller ID. "Mother Hen's at it again," she sighed, handing Kim her credit card. "I'll be back in two seconds."

Tamara retreated to the entrance of the store as she drew the phone to her ear. "Where's the fire, Ray?"

^I'm fairly sure we decided to keep Kimberly here until Spectra returns. Here

being our apartment, not the general vicinity.^

Oh great, she's in one of her moods

!

"Ray, just relax. Why should we keep her under house arrest? It's not like she's done anything to make us suspicious-"

^You mean besides falling through an inter-dimensional portal and replacing Jocelyn?^

"Which we've figured out isn't her fault. Craig told me about that 'aggressive portal' stuff Spectra was talking about. Kim said she got sucked in, and the evidence supports that. She hasn't lied to us yet, and I for one think she deserves the benefit of the doubt… and maybe a new outfit as a peace offering."

Tamara grinned as she heard the resigned sigh issue from the receiver. Rachel was definitely caving, and even faster than Tamara had predicted. ^Did you at least bring someone along? Just in case you need backup?^

"Everyone's busy. Keith's got that Human Resource Management class today, Craig has a quiz in Psychology of Violence, and Matt's monitoring. But we're doing just fine. Kim's a great co-shopper! She even hunted down these fantastic platform boots on the sale rack, and I was absolutely sure they were out of size seven…"

^Okay, okay,^ Rachel surrendered. ^Just make sure you're home by quarter of two. You've got to fill in for Matt.^

"I'll be back in plenty of time. See you later!"

Tamara switched off the phone, a satisfied grin on her face as she arrived at the register just as Kim handed the cashier the credit card.

"What's the story?" Kim wondered.

"Rachel's just being Rachel. So we have a 1:45 curfew." She signed her name on the receipt, and together she and Kim collected the shopping bags. "Let's stop by the gift shop and then the food court. Do you like souvlaki? Because 'It's Greek to Me' serves the best souvlaki I've tasted on this coast!"

Kim grinned at the thought, hurrying to keep up with the energetic Yellow Enforcer.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The Moon

Even though he had not directly attacked the Power Rangers in several days, Lord Zedd was far from inactive. He had been hard at work on the surface of the moon, overseeing the final stages of preparation for his ultimate weapon. A Zord of such scale and power, no counterattack the Rangers could mount would even scratch its serpentine hull. Once the final programming was completed, and the power core fully charged, nothing would stand against the might of Serpentera.

However, when he sensed the strange energy reading emanating from the extreme north of the Earth, his attention was diverted. Intrigued, he directed his attention to the Earth, watching as the Pink and White Rangers vanished into the energy vortex of the pole. When they finally emerged, only the White Ranger was standing.

They had disappeared into the Command Center, hidden from his scrutiny, only to return to usual activity later that evening. Yet, while all seven Rangers were accounted for, there was certainly an increased concern for Kimberly's well-being.

Something has happened at the arctic pole,

he surmised, tapping his steel-tipped fingers against the arm of his stone throne. Perhaps it is something I can exploit.

"Goldar! Finster! Get in here!"

The bellow resonated through the cavernous hallways, until the gilded warrior appeared at the doorway, bowing deeply as he approached his Lord. Moments later, the Monster-Baker also appeared, though his bow was more ceremonial than heartfelt.

"Yes, Lord Zedd?" they both spoke.

"Something bizarre is happening on Earth, and it seems to be focused at the North Pole," he revealed, rising from his throne. He approached the balcony, sending his telescopic crimson beam toward the planet. "My sight can't penetrate the energy field, but I must know exactly

what is there. Finster, you will journey to the North Pole and report back to me your findings."

Finster seemed surprised by the order. Rarely was he given the opportunity to take an active role in Zedd's devices. "As you command," he responded.

Zedd turned to the Titan warrior. "Goldar, you will provide a distraction to keep the Rangers out of Finster's fur. Go to Angel Grove with my Putty Patrol, and attack the high school. Capture the Pink Ranger, and bring her to me."

Goldar frowned, clearly remembering the last time he'd tried to spirit her away, after her visit to a fortuneteller. "Again?"

The low growl Zedd released was enough to make the tall beast shiver. "Yes, again

. Only this time, get it right! Kimberly and Tommy saw firsthand whatever anomaly is currently focused at the Pole, and what the Rangers know, I shall know." The despot sneered beneath his silver mask. "Besides, if I sent you to capture Tommy, you'd surely fail. I would hope you'd fare better against the Pink Ranger."

Yellowed fangs bared at the insult, but Goldar held back any overt reaction. Instead, he nodded curtly to his master, his bruised ego giving the Titan a determination he typically did not exhibit.

This time, he would not fail.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Angel Grove

Done, and done,

Jocelyn reflected with satisfaction, closing the exam booklet and stretching her arms. According to the clock, she had over fifteen minutes before the exam period was over, and she'd even had enough time to go over her answers.

She grinned as she glanced around the classroom. Everyone else seemed to be hard at work, filling in the Scantron circles, punching values into calculators, chewing their pencils, scratching their heads, or staring at the question booklet in dismay. All except Billy, who sat near the front of the classroom, quietly reading the latest issue of 'Scientific American.'

Jocelyn's eyes widened as she glanced at the clock again. He must be really

smart…

Almost as if he'd heard her thoughts, Billy turned around and grinned at her. When he turned back to his magazine, a sudden six-tone signal issued from his watch.

Billy dropped the magazine, muffling the sound with his free hand. He then discreetly collected his belongings, rose from his desk, and approached Ms. Applebee.

Jocelyn watched, dumbstruck, as Billy nodded a silent thanks and hurried out the door.

Must be Ranger business,

she concluded, turning toward Alexis. The Purple Ranger stared at the door through which Billy left with unveiled concern, before finally turning her attention back to her incomplete exam.

Jocelyn didn't waste another moment. She grabbed the exam booklet and Kimberly's backpack, and made her way to the front of the room.

Ms. Applebee stared in surprise as Jocelyn approached her. "Is something wrong?"

"I was hoping I could, uh, be dismissed?"

"I can't dismiss you until the exam is completed. You know that."

Jocelyn then sat her exam booklet on the teacher's desk. "I'm all done, and… I'm feeling a little dizzy. I'd like to go to the nurse's office and lie down for the rest of the period, if that's all right."

Jocelyn put on her best 'exhausted pout,' hoping to capitalize on her comparative pallor and convince the teacher of her sincerity. After a beat, Ms. Applebee nodded.

"If you're sure you're finished with the exam…"

"Yes, I'm done."

"Then I'll write you a pass," the teacher concluded, pulling a pad from her top drawer and writing quickly. "I hope you feel better, Kim. You really do look ill; I think you should consider going home." She then leaned closer to her. "We're not doing much in English today."

"Thanks," Jocelyn breathed with a tired grin. She then turned, smiled briefly to a startled Alexis, and made her way out the door.

The halls of Angel Grove High were eerily quiet, no doubt because she'd left almost fifteen minutes before the period ended. Her steps echoed down the long corridors as she stared down each alternate path that could possibly lead to the Blue Ranger.

Maybe I should've thought this through better,

she realized with dismay. He could be anywhere, and I don't have one of those wrist-gizmos to page him.

Frowning in frustration, she simply chose a direction, and began walking.

"Hey Babe!"

Jocelyn nearly jumped out of her skin at the loud voice, coupled with a bizarre, high-pitched giggle. She turned around, her eyes wide as she saw two figures stroll towards her, one large in frame, the other tall and lanky. And both wore torn jeans, grungy T-shirts, and bandannas.

Puzzled, Jocelyn turned around, checking to see if there were any "Babes" in the area. No one had ever leered at her in school before…

"Whatcha looking for?" the thin one questioned, a smirk on his face as he stood before her. The larger one was a step behind, looking impatiently at his watch.

"Let's move it, Skull," he hissed. "If we leave now, we'll get to Ernie's early and beat the lunch crowd."

"Be right with ya, Bulkie," the other responded. He never took his smoky blue eyes off Jocelyn, which made the latter incredibly uncomfortable.

Apparently, he noticed her anxiety, for all humor slowly dropped from his face. "You okay, Kim?"

"Fine," she answered quickly. "Just a little run down."

Skull's eyes drifted from her reddened, slightly puffy eyes, to her unusually pale face, to her oddly blondish hair, all the way down to her Keds.

Surprise washed over his face as his gaze darted back to her face.

Jocelyn noticed his reaction, and bit her lip anxiously. "Uh… I uh… have a cold," she murmured, rubbing her eyes once again. "It's been a tough morning."

She opened her eyes, and Skull's eyebrow rose as their gazes met. Then his scrutiny began again, and his gaze lingered on the pink note she gripped in her palm.

"You're headed the wrong way, Kim," he realized, his tone slightly incredulous. "The nurse's office is that way."

Jocelyn looked in the direction he pointed, feeling the embarrassed blush she knew would reach her cheeks. "Yes, well… I was looking for Billy, actually. He's got a book of mine I need back."

Skull's eyes narrowed, and Jocelyn suddenly felt the urge to slap her forehead. I really

need to work on this lying thing.

Then, the punk stepped back, jerking his thumb down the hall from which he came. "The mega-geek just ran into the bathroom. Must've been something he ate."

"Thanks, Skull," she said with real gratitude. "I'll see you later."

Skull watched her leave until Bulk impatiently cleared his throat.

"Get the lead out, Skull! I want my cheese fries!"

Skull approached his best friend, and in silence they headed out the door. But the vapid grin that typically brightened Skull's face never returned.

Instead, a worried frown curled his lip as he glanced back towards Kim once again.

She was taller than normal. Usually when she wore sneakers her head came up just above his chin, but today her head topped his nose. And her eyes… he knew he saw a sliver of green peek through after she'd rubbed them.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The Denebian Flagship

It had taken nearly an entire day, but the young princess finally found what she was searching for.

Her smile turned malicious as she opened a scroll, clearly depicting an ancient carving. The carving she'd attempted to replicate in the frozen tundra of Earth's northern pole. The carving she failed

to replicate flawlessly.

"It matters not," she decided, re-rolling the ancient parchment. "All I have lost is a day of time."

All things considered, she'd been able to make an excellent recovery after her… mistake. Her mother was reasonably merciful, only restricting the princess to her rooms. The empress lacked the foresight to confiscate all of Celea's luggage from Fesp, which included dozens of priceless scrolls and irreplaceable volumes. She was either too distracted by her own pursuits, or she underestimated the princess' determination.

Celea decided it was most likely a little of both.

"Now, all I need to do is correct the carving, and the portal will open as intended," the princess reasoned, stuffing the scroll in a leather pouch to protect it from the elements. "By the time Mother learns what I have done, I will command a demon army!"

She smiled widely at that, imagining the scores of hellish creatures that would emerge from the portal. They would either bow to her or fall at her feet, just like every other creature she faced in her lifetime. They would recognize the princess of the Denebian Empire, the power she held, and the destiny she would someday fulfill.

Part Four

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Angel Grove

It had taken Billy longer than usual to find a decent location to hide before responding to the Command Center's hail. All the classrooms were occupied, and the absurdly quiet halls meant his voice would carry, possibly reaching intrusive ears.

His frustration grew as he finally dodged into the men's room, already considering an upgrade to the communicators. Could he install a text-only feature for such emergencies? Or perhaps a discrete earpiece that connected to the main unit via retractable wire? At least that way, the Rangers wouldn't be in danger of someone overhearing their conversations.

He checked each stall to confirm privacy before finally choosing the one furthest from the door.

"This is Billy. What's going on?"

^Goldar and a platoon of Putties have arrived outside the school!^ Alpha warned. ^We checked on all of you in the Viewing Globe; you're the only Ranger finished with the exam.^

Billy glanced at his watch. "There's only twelve minutes left in the test period. I should be able to hold off Goldar until the others arrive. But why would he attack the school? He's never done that before."

^WE ARE CONSIDERING ALL OPTIONS. BUT AT THE MOMENT, THIS ATTACK MUST BE COUNTERED BEFORE INNOCENT STUDENTS ARE INJURED.^

"I'm on my-"

Billy bit his tongue as the door squealed open. He immediately released the transmit button, holding his breath as footsteps approached.

"Billy? You in here?"

His eyes widened as he pushed the stall open. "Jocelyn? What are you doing here?"

The visitor from an alternate reality rolled her eyes. "Following you, obviously. Why else would I be in the men's room?" She then looked pointedly at his watch. "What did Zordon have to say? Did he find anything out about the inter-dimensional portal?"

"I'm afraid not. There's a disturbance outside the school, and I need to check it out."

She frowned. "What kind of disturbance?"

"Nothing to worry about," Billy insisted. "Can you stand outside the door and make sure no one enters? This will take a second."

Jocelyn sighed as she left the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She heard a single word and the crackle of energy, and then saw a vivid blue light flash through the gap below the door.

After a beat, she peeked into the bathroom to confirm that the Blue Ranger was gone.

Her hands fell to her hips. I can't get to the Command Center without a Ranger escort, and I can't go back to class. I might as well find out what this 'disturbance'

is.

Determined, she hurried towards the main entrance of the school. At first, she wondered exactly how she would pinpoint the Blue Ranger, but it turned out that the 'disturbance' was right at the school's doorstep.

She stood at the heavy door, watching in amazement as the single Ranger confronted what appeared to be a seven-foot tall blue monkey in gold armor. And it had wings.

It all looked surreal. The calm, grassy grounds were crawling with about a dozen white-gray creatures, stalking around and creating a disgusting gurgling sound. This morning, Angel Grove High looked like your average suburban public high school. But this was bizarre.

Phaedra hasn't attacked outright yet.

Jocelyn recalled. So far she's been fairly discreet. I wonder what it will be like when the attacks begin above ground?

She was startled out of her thoughts as three of the gray creatures lunged at her.

"Whoa!" she gasped, stepping out of the way. She considered running back into the building, but that would only invite the creatures to follow her, jeopardizing hundreds of students.

So far, the creatures seemed content to buzz around the school grounds, which were now bereft of bystanders.

Well, except for her.

I didn't come here to gawk, I came to help! But I should've

Synced before I ran out here!

Huffing at her oversight, she ducked another punch, watching as the gray fist cracked the heavy wood door.

"You guys are stronger than you look," she acknowledged, "but I have a few tricks you haven't seen."

Her stone glowed to life, and sent a tight beam of energy through the stomach of the creature. It stumbled back, falling clumsily down the stairs and knocking over the other creatures as well. Though it rose to its feet moments later, and Jocelyn watched in surprise as the smoking hole shrank before her eyes.

"Ookay, you regenerate," she realized, glaring death at the assaulting aliens. "Terrific."

"Aim for the 'Z'!" a voice shouted urgently. Jocelyn turned, and saw the Blue Ranger waving at her. "Hit the Putties on the 'Z' and they'll crumble!"

Jocelyn grinned as the creatures resumed their approach. "So your Achilles' heel is the enormous plate on your chest? Whoever created you really needs to go back to the drawing board."

Her fist tightened again, urging a translucent glove of energy to manifest around her hand. She then drove her fist into the vulnerable plate, and watched with satisfaction as the Putty disintegrated.

She paused to throw the Blue Ranger at thumb's up, only to watch in paralyzed fear as the gold creature lifted an enormous sword.

"Look out!" she cried. Only, it was too late.

She stared in blank surprise as sparks flew from the Blue Ranger's back. The force of the blow knocked him to his hands and knees, only for the creature to stomp his foot at the site of the wound.

Jocelyn's breaths quickened. On the one hand, she was relieved beyond measure that Billy's back hadn't been flayed open by that monstrous sword. Apparently the spandex-like costume the Rangers wore was more durable than it looked.

But on the other, Billy was down for the count, and the vicious alien was enjoying grinding the hero into the earth.

Eyes narrow, Jocelyn created a wave of energy that knocked the surrounding Putties for a loop, clearing the way for her to run towards the monster. She didn't have a plan, and she was still very much vulnerable to attack, but she couldn't stand by and watch Billy suffer.

"Stop it, space freak!" she shrieked. She was startled when the beast looked up at her, smirking.

"So kind of you to come out and see me, Kimberly," he sneered. The depth of his growl and the intensity in his s ruby eyes made goose bumps rise on Jocelyn's skin. "Now I don't have to level the school searching for you."

He gave the struggling Blue Ranger a sharp kick to his side, earning a pained groan, before approaching the wide-eyed girl.

He moved staggeringly fast for a creature his size. Jocelyn barely had time to turn and run before a vice-like grip snatched her upper arm with bruising force. She opened her mouth to scream, only for her throat to constrict as the monster lifted his sword once again.

"This time, you won't escape me, Girl."

Jocelyn struggled against his grip, trying to focus her frenzied thoughts enough to Spectrum Sync, when a blast of energy knocked the sword clean from the monster's hand.

The alien roared furiously, shaking his now smoking hand as he turned around.

"Let her go, Goldar," the Red Ranger demanded, his hands tightly gripping a laser pistol. "Now!"

Jocelyn felt a wave of relief as she saw the Purple and White Rangers stand beside Red, the former armed with a sphere of energy hovering between her palms and the latter clenching his saber. The Yellow and Black Rangers were behind them, helping the dazed Blue Ranger to his feet.

Reinforcements had arrived.

Goldar snarled. "Not this time, Ranger!" In one fluid motion his singed hand grabbed Jocelyn, and his mighty wings spread, catapulting the alien and his prize into the clear blue skies above Angel Grove.

Jocelyn felt her stomach leap as her kidnapper swerved in the air, effectively dodging a burning sphere of purple energy as well as streaks of red and white laser. He then spiraled, arching higher into the air as his grip tightened.

The combination of the wind slapping her face, the tight grip around her stomach, and the dizzying twists and turns made Jocelyn light-headed and sluggish… but not helpless.

"This joyride is over," she snarled, closing her eyes and willing her mind to focus. "Spectrum Sync!"

Goldar stared in complete shock as a vibrant orange aura encompassed his prisoner, forcing him to release his grip. He backed away, watching dumbly as the energy cocoon vanished.

He blinked at the slight figure in orange floating before him, her light brown hair billowing in the wind, and her arms hanging akimbo at her sides. "You are not Kimberly," he murmured.

Bright orange energy coalesced around her fists. "You got that right," she sneered.

The assault was swift and intense. Before Goldar could even growl a response, a barrage of orange bolts completely overwhelmed him. There were too many to effectively dodge, and without his sword he couldn't deflect them.

In mere seconds, the bruised, battered Titan warrior lost all strength, and plummeted towards the ground below.

The Rangers watched, stunned, as Goldar crashed into the street just a block away from the high school, his armored body creating spidery cracks in the pavement.

"Holy cow!" Black gasped, watching the enemy go limp. "Bet he didn't see that one coming!"

The Orange Enforcer descended to the ground, her arms folded and head held high with grim satisfaction. "Not too shabby, if I do say so myself."

"Are you okay?" Trini wondered.

"Fit as a fiddle," she answered, running her fingers through her windblown hair.

"You shouldn't have followed me," Billy stated. "You don't know what our opponents are capable of. You could've been seriously hurt."

"And you would have been," she retorted, "Look, all the Rangers were busy, so I stepped in. And relax; this isn't the first firefight I've been in."

"But you were lucky," Tommy said grimly, "If Jase didn't knock Goldar's sword from his hands, he would've teleported you to the moon. And we don't know what Zedd has in mind this time."

Jocelyn tensed. "Look, I appreciate your help, and even your concern, but I am not helpless. I may not know much about what these space-freaks can do, but I know what I can do!"

Trini held up her hands, stepping between the bickering pair once again. "We should definitely take this inside," she stated, "We're attracting some attention."

Jocelyn looked up, and for the first time noticed the dozens of people circling them. Commuters, storeowners, and even some students had followed the signs of battle, and were watching the unprecedented Ranger argument from a respectable distance.

Jocelyn's gaze swept the crowd, recognizing Bulk, Skull, Ms. Applebee, Rocky, Adam, Aisha, and other faces she'd seen in class, as well as in Kimberly's photographs.

Just wonderful. How long have they been watching?

Her eyes widened beneath her navy visor. They didn't see me Sync, did they? Kimberly will have one hell of a time explaining that.

The crowd hovered, most of them too star-struck to do anything more than stare at their heroes. The Rangers rarely lingered after a battle.

The first one to raise his voice was Adam, and his eyes lingered on the unidentified heroine. "Are you the Orange Ranger?"

Surprised at the question, Jocelyn glanced down at her costume, and then to the Rangers. "Do I look like one?"

Zack stepped forward, feeding off the attention like a performer in the spotlight. "No, she's not. This is the Orange Enforcer, our ally from… very

far away."

Light from cameras flashed from all directions, causing Jocelyn to take a startled step back, bumping into Jason.

"Not much of a people-person?" he asked with a grin.

"We don't get much publicity."

"We need to get back," Billy pointed out, "We've got work to do."

"What do we do about Goldar?" Alexis wondered.

Tommy turned toward the crushed pavement, and frowned beneath his helmet. "Zedd got to him first. Goldar's gone."

"Then let's go," Trini suggested. She waved to the crowds, edging closer to Jocelyn. "Everyone, please step back. And thanks for your support."

She touched Jocelyn's arm, nodded once, and then the entire team vanished in columns of vivid energy.

Once the Rangers left the scene, the crowd slowly began to separate, everyone returning to more mundane activities. But Rocky lingered, his gaze turning from the purple "watch" on his wrist to the sky where the Rangers departed, and back again.

Alexis freaked out when she saw my new watch-thing. Then she ran out of the classroom as soon as she finished her test, and minutes later everyone's screaming about the Power Rangers fighting a monster at the school's front door! Coincidences? Yeah, right!

He then turned toward the Youth Center, a triumphant smirk on his face as his thoughts turned from one mysterious redhead to Ernie's lunch special for Mondays.

"Chilidogs!" he spoke aloud, his smirk widening into a full smile. "This is turning out to be a terrific day!"

Chapter Forty

Lumina City

Deep within the magical fortress of Lumina City, the wise founder of the organized resistance against the Denebian Empire stood with one of his most capable mentees. Luminus walked beside the far-reaching shelf of the main library, combing Spectra's story for all critical details.

"…and only a few moments later, a different girl manifested," Spectra finished. "At the time we thought it was Jocelyn, but DNA analysis confirmed that she is not. Also, she claims to be a human being from a different planet Earth."

She studied Luminus' expression for any clues to his thoughts. "High Father, is such a thing possible?"

"I must confess, I've never heard of such a phenomenon…"

Spectra's face fell.

"..but that doesn't mean it isn't possible." Luminus glanced to the ceiling, folding his hands behind his back. "A portal that bridges two worlds, trading two individuals with similar characteristics. I cannot imagine what Celea hoped to accomplish with such a spell."

Spectra shook her head in dismay. "Neither could we. My only assumption is that Celea is trying to trick us; throw us off guard while Phaedra finalizes some new scheme to conquer Earth."

"I suppose that is possible," Luminus conceded, "but there are much more effective portals to manifest. She could have banished your team into another galaxy, or another dimension, altogether. Why send only one through, and why replace her with another potential enemy?"

"The girl Kimberly has no powers here," Spectra explained. "Her powers are tied to her own dimension."

"It is still an unlikely scheme. And it does not sound like something Celea would think of. The princess has all her mother's impatience, but exemplifies her father's endless ambition and complete disregard for life. Add to it her own unique recklessness and you have an explosive combination. Subtlety and complex mind games are not her method."

"Perhaps she wants to dishearten my Force," Spectra suggested. "Dissolve their confidence and camaraderie."

Luminus looked to Spectra. "If Celea's aim was to dishearten your team, she would have killed one."

Spectra paled in shock.

Luminus nodded, confirming Spectra's surprise. "Her evil has blossomed since your last battle with the princess. She is more than the spoiled child you remember. Her ruthlessness and battle skill eclipse what she was before. During her brief rule of the conquered planet Fesp, her experiments with magic killed hundreds of Fespin slaves. Whether it was accidental or intentional I cannot guess."

Spectra shook herself, trying to absorb the unexpected information the High Father had given her. Her mind strayed to the danger the Force might face, should Celea return to Earth before she could complete her research.

"Luminus, I must get back," Spectra murmured.

"And we must solve this puzzle," Luminus reminded her.

Spectra took an anxious breath. "But how?"

"Perhaps, we can repair the damage without directly undoing what Celea has done," Luminus suggested. "It should not be difficult to open a conventional portal; a doorway into the Realm from which this 'Power Ranger' came. Once there, you can search for your missing member telepathically."

The youthful warrior's eyes widened. "Can you do that?"

A wry smirk touched the old man's face. "The aura of the origin world always lingers with a traveler, and my sensitivity to alternate worlds is uniquely sharp. Provided this Ranger recently emerged from the Multiverse, I should be able to retrace her steps. But I will need to be in the girl's presence."

Spectra shook her head. "I cannot let you come to Earth. If you should die-"

"If I die, Child, our forces will fight on. I am a Warrior of Light, just as you are. I just happen to be a little older."

He unhooked his outer tunic from beside the door, and slid it on. "Besides, this will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn about alternate dimensions."

Spectra gaped, scandalized. "Me? But I've always been taught to avoid creating portals, at the risk of the entire universe!"

He nodded solemnly. "Unfortunately, our enemy does not share our concerns."

Chapter Forty-One

The North Pole

The princess materialized in the frozen tundra of the barren north. This time, she wore the protective regal battle suit, just in case she should run into any more interfering humans. The enchanted metal plating provided only minimal protection from the bitter cold that threw her forest green curls in a chaotic whirl.

The resilient girl shrugged off the cold temperature and forceful gales, following the faint glow of energy back to the portal she had created a few hours ago.

Her eyebrow quirked. "So the portal remains? I thought it had closed when the Spectrum Force played with it. Interesting."

She didn't take the time to consider how this unexpected development might complicate her plan. Instead, she unrolled a parchment, drawing a dagger from her belt. With a careful eye, she examined her own carving, and etched the subtle changes that made all the difference in the incantation.

Then, she rose to her knees. "Now, to give my spell new life."

She slid her blade over her palm, drawing enough blood to lend new energy to the spell.

The brand flashed with the infusion of life energy, encouraging Celea to continue.

"Malah'nit junsu narehn ki ma. Olon parecht ni lai nar. K'hami sur ha QUAOSH, hei himi he lai. Hianep Jai hunrai khel nar, j'se karin lai!"

Upon completion of her spell she braced herself for the explosion of power that had knocked the wind out of her earlier. This time, the explosion did not come.

The winds began to howl as the brand glowed a steady red, darkening from a vivid fiery shade into a deep, bloody crimson. That crimson saturated the existing portal, erasing the view screen and replacing it with a new, abstract image.

It was fire. Anguish. Darkness. Rage. Lust. Death. All unbridled, all eager to consume.

She watched, folding her arms as lightning crackled from the edges, flashing just enough light in the darkened cavern to make the princess squint.

Then a narrow, spidery leg about four feet long stretched from the portal.

Celea held her breath as the six-legged beast emerged. It wasn't much larger than five feet tall, but the oily skin, rows of shark-like teeth, and empty eyes gave testament to its origin. The invisible aura around it screamed of power begging to be released. Of muscles that had not been stretched in the name of destruction for eons.

The princess cleared her throat. "I am Celea, crowned princess of the Denebian Em-"

The leg snapped like a whip, plowing into the princess' puffed chest, forcing the air out of her lungs. She stumbled back, shaking off her daze as ruby eyes glared at the monstrosity.

"So, I must prove my worth to you," she sneered, twin scythes gleaming in her hands. "As you wish!"

She crossed her blades at arm's length, creating a flash of energy that blocked the Chaotic's attack. Just as its leg bounced back after impact, she slashed one scythe, neatly amputating the limb.

The limb disintegrated, but the Chaotic merely stumbled back and waited.

A heartbeat later, the limb grew back, good as new.

Celea's released a startled grunt as the Chaotic lunged at her again, both of its forelegs slashing in rapid succession while it moved ever forward.

The princess deflected each blow, her teeth gnashing as she was forced inexorably towards the cave's entrance.

Celea allowed herself to be herded backward until she felt the frigid chill of the arctic winds. She smirked, confidently backpedaling into the snow, evading each of the creature's blows as she awaited its reaction.

Sure enough, after it stepped into the frozen tundra, a shudder made the creature pause.

That was all the time Celea needed. She tightened her grip on her scythes, focusing her power, and slashed at the thick neck of the creature.

She didn't stop there. Once her opponent was decapitated, she meticulously dismembered it, ignoring the thick black ochre that spurted from the abomination.

Finally, once the creature was no longer recognizable, she paused.

"Try and regenerate that

," she sneered, wiping the acrid black blood from her cheeks. Her smile stretched as a flash of energy swallowed the creature, leaving only bloodstains and melted snow behind. Once her opponent vanished completely, she approached the cave, her scythes at the ready and a gleam of anticipation in her eyes.

When she rounded the corner into the cavern, another vicious blow caught her by surprise. The spidery leg smashed into her chin, knocking off her helmet and throwing her into the unyielding cave wall.

Celea shook her head to clear her daze, and stared at her new opponent. Or rather, opponents.

Two spider-like Chaotics crawled along the cavern floor, and one stared down at her from the low ceiling.

She reached for her fallen scythe, only for the nearest monster to thrust its leg into her shoulder, right between the plates of her armor. The princess screamed as the creature held her fast, its leg piercing through her arm and into the rock wall behind her.

Celea bit down, suppressing her pained howls as her free hand drew a small dagger from her belt. She flung the sharp blade into the creature's most prominent eye, earning a high-pitched shriek that rang in her ears. Then she tightened her grip around the prickly leg that impaled her shoulder, and concentrated.

A fierce red glow suffused her hand, and the energy released let her crush the limb, forcing the creature to draw it back. She breathed with momentary relief as the burning pain subsided, letting her battered arm fall to her side.

But she never got the chance to escape.

The creature slapped her cheek with crushing force, ripping open the skin and knocking her head against the cavern wall.

Chapter Forty-Two

Langstrum Alps

The alarms screamed with such sudden urgency Keith leapt from his seat, dropping his textbook and study notes to the floor. Ignoring the mess he just made, he stared at the information flashing on the large screen of the planetary security system.

"Satellites have picked up a burst of energy at the North Pole," he read aloud. "Could that mean Jocie found her way back?"

Keith's eyes trailed over the details of the energy reading. "I can't make heads or tails of all this info," he realized, shaking his head. "I guess there's only one way to find out what's going down up there."

He pressed a sequence of buttons, sending an alert to his teammates. Then, he stepped away from the console, lifting his Spectrum Stone to the sky.

"Spectrum Sync!"

A flood of vivid red energy bathed him, forming a snug bodysuit while charging his form with the power of light.

A moment later, the Red Enforcer looked back at the monitor with a grimace. "If Jocelyn materialized at the Pole, she could freeze to death," he reasoned. "I'd better scout ahead and let the others catch up to me."

Keith ran to the hatch and pressed the code, letting the hangar open to reveal the clear skies in which the ship hovered. Then, he launched himself into the air, transforming matter into light and streaking to his destination in a heartbeat.

When he arrived at the frozen north, he stared in shock at the scene before him. Earlier, the area was a pristine white, but now a handful of black forms dotted the snowfields.

He hovered closer, trying to get a better view. When he got close enough to discern their grotesque shape, inhale their acrid smell, and feel the vile aura of madness and chaos that surrounded them, Keith felt his stomach flip.

*Guys, get the lead out!* he called, *I need-*

Conscious thought dissolved into panic as one of the creatures suddenly catapulted into the air, directly at him.

The Red Enforcer released a wordless shout, flinging himself skyward while mustering an attack between his hands. He then released his power in a battering ram of energy that met the monstrosity head-on.

Keith didn't let up his attack. He continued pouring his energy into the blast, watching the flailing limbs of the creature smoke and shrink. Then, a flash of energy signaled its departure from this world.

Keith sighed his relief. "One down, four to-" He gasped as the group of creatures formed a circle below. "Hey! Where'd the extra one come from?"

They jumped one at a time, claw-tipped feet slashing mercilessly as they performed leaps that would impress Superman himself. Keith erected a shield around his body, keeping the claws at a safe distance, while zigzagging in the air to avoid as many direct hits as possible. But each time a leg pounded against his shield, he felt a lance of pain in his mind, weakening his concentration.

Whatever these things are made of, it's screwing with my powers!

Keith began to slow down, panting heavily to force his mind into focus, as the creatures renewed their aerial assault. By the eighth head-on attack, the faint red bubble of energy shattered completely, allowing a deadly talon to rip into his side.

It was a shallow cut, but it felt like a red-hot poker had torn flesh and muscle. Keith hissed wordlessly, flipping around and pummeling the creature that assaulted him with all the power he could generate. The creature folded into itself, and disappeared.

The fiery pain didn't relent. Keith cradled his wound, pushing himself further into the air, praying he was capable of flying out of the monsters' reach.

Fortunately, he didn't need to retreat for long. Flashes of purple, yellow, blue, and green energy rained from the skies above, hammering the creatures with enough power to keep them earthbound.

"Keith!" Tamara gasped, hovering at his side, "You're hurt!"

"It's not deep," he assured her, "But it still burns."

"It's not bleeding," Matthew noted, folding his arms. "It's cauterized."

"Meaning?" Keith pressed.

"Meaning whatever cut you is really hot."

"Spectrum Force, fan out!" Rachel called from above, "We need to make some room between us. There's one for each of us, assuming you're up to fighting, Keith."

Red stared at his friend. "There's still

five?? I know I cremated that last one!"

Craig looked down at the ground, recounting the monsters. "Either they're more resilient than you think, or they replicate. Because there are definitely five down there."

"Then let's take them out fast, in case they do replicate," Rachel decided. "New plan: we hit one at a time with all we've got, and see if that does the trick." She pointed at the nearest creature. "Fire on my mark!"

The Force hovered away from each other, making room as each one summoned the totality of their destructive power.

"Now!"

Five beams of radiant energy streaked to the creature all at once, combining to create a rainbow of power. The creature was caught in the explosion of power, and when the light faded, there was nothing left.

Rachel smirked. "Now for-"

Her words were lost in a startled cry as a creature pounced on her from behind, wrapping its legs around her body in a vice.

Craig's eyes widened as he watched his friend plummet, her purple aura slowly fading. "Everyone, Dia-Staffs up!"

Each one pressed their hands together, and slowly parted them, manifesting a narrow pole of seeming granite that steadily glowed with the color signature of its user.

Blue dove to the ground, his Dia-Staff reshaping at his will into a fierce battle-ax. The gleaming blade sliced cleanly into the back of the creature, forcing it to loosen its grip.

Purple hit the ground hard, splashing melted snow and ice in all directions and knocking the nightmarish creature loose. She clutched her head, trying to shake her mind back into focus, as the Force settled in a tight circle around her, each one wielding the Dia-Staff in their preferred shape.

"Rachel?" Keith queried, inching back toward her. "You okay?"

"My head… just won't stop spinning," she sighed, rubbing her temples.

"Yeah," he murmured, "Those monsters broke my concentration before. I think they have the power to disrupt our powers, somehow. Something about where they come from… that aura of evil around them."

"Then we can't let them touch us," she determined, rising onto unsteady legs. "Keep our shields at full power to stop any direct contact."

Her hands began to glow vividly as she channeled her power. "We have to finish this before these things show off some other weird abilities."

Keith nodded, watching as her dual-cannon energy barrage vaporized one creature.

"That brings us to two," he noted, turning to survey the battle scene. Craig and Tamara had teamed up against one monster, while Matt mercilessly pounded the other with his own Dia-Staff.

He then turned toward the cave, and watched with wide eyes as two more creatures emerged from the consuming darkness.

"Hey! They're coming from the cave!" he shouted.

Rachel followed his gaze. "It must be Celea's portal." Her energy field intensified as she leapt into the air. "Go check it out, Keith. We'll keep the existing monsters at bay. Let us know what you find."

Keith nodded, watching as Rachel fired two wide energy strikes, effectively plowing both new creatures away from the mouth of the cave. Keith flew toward the dark aperture, slowing his approach as he reached the melted, muddied ground just outside the cave.

Frowning, he inspected the deep footprints and gouged earth. "I didn't make these marks," he realized. "Someone was here before me."

"Keith!" a voice called from behind. Red turned around and watched as Green flew towards him, leaving a mangled monster behind him that quickly faded into nothingness.

"Did you find anything?" Matt demanded.

Keith pointed to the muddied tracks. "Maybe. We have to investigate this cave, but brace yourself: something is definitely in here. And someone was here before us, fighting these monsters."

Matt's breath caught. "Do you think it was Jocelyn?"

Keith grimaced; the thought had crossed his mind. "I… hope not."

Without another word Matt marched ahead, concentrating his power into his fist to cast a harmless beam of light into the relative darkness. Keith followed closely behind him, inspecting the jagged walls of the cavern for any further clues. Then, Matt's energy beam fell directly upon a faintly glowing portal, which immediately swallowed the light almost hungrily.

"Whoa," Keith breathed, staring into the consuming fiery blackness. He could feel the intensity of the other dimension, as if he held his face before a heated oven. Only, it wasn't just heat. It reeked of death and destruction. "This can't be the same portal that brought Kimberly here. But what happened?"

Matthew glared toward the far wall, and angled the light beam in that direction. "Maybe we should ask her

."

Keith blinked in shock. Lying against the wall, eyes closed and blood trickling down her ashen face, lay the Denebian princess herself.

"Jesus," he murmured, kneeling beside her. He gently pressed his fingers beneath her jaw. "She's… dead!"

Matt scoffed. "We should be so lucky," he growled. "What makes you think she's got the same pulse points as a human, anyway? We don't know squat about Denebian physiology."

Keith shrugged in acknowledgment of Matt's point, and moving aside as the pre-med student took a careful assessment.

"She's breathing," Matt noted, "It's shallow, but it's there. But she's in bad shape. There's a hole the size of a baseball through her shoulder. And all this blood from her head, probably severe head trauma."

"We gotta get her out of here," Keith decided, "Can you tell if it's safe to move her?"

Matt stared as his friend. "You're not serious."

Keith met Matt's gaze evenly. "You're not suggesting we just leave her here to die, are you?"

"Absolutely." Green folded his arms. "This is all her

fault. She summoned these demons from God-knows where, and she got exactly what was coming to her!"

"But she might know how to fix all this!" Keith argued. "Maybe if we help her, she'll help us close this portal, and maybe even get Jocie back."

"Yeah right. Keith, she's a monster

! She won't help us!"

Keith turned back to the fallen princess. "We can't assume that. She might be the only chance we'll ever have to get Jocelyn back. I know it's a long shot, but right now, it's all we've got."

Matt stared at the portal for a long moment, and then back to the Denebian princess. "Okay," he sighed, "Let's get her out of here."

Keith looked down at the helpless girl, a frown forming. "Uh… where we should put her? We can't bring her to the ship. If she woke up…"

His words died on his tongue as an eerie light suddenly filled the cave. Both heroes stared at the portal, watching electricity crackle at its edges. Then, something stretched into the cave.

A leathery wing.

"Keith," Matt instructed, "take Celea and find a safe place to keep her. I'll cover your exit."

Keith nodded wordlessly, slipping one arm behind her neck and the other under her knees. He lifted the girl as quickly as he dared and carried her out of the cave.

Matt's fists flared with energy as the new creature fully emerged from the portal. Unlike the spider-inspired creature, this was more reminiscent of an emaciated wolf, only two pairs of wings sprouted from its oily back. And it had teeth that would send Jaws swimming for its life.

It shrieked as, without warning, a battering ram of power slammed it into the nearest wall.

"Great," Matt sighed, "we're getting a buffet of murderous monsters tonight!"

The Green Enforcer turned, mustering his power for another assault, when a flash from the portal drew his attention.

The eerie blackness disappeared. Instead, he found himself staring at a face.

The face of a white goat, wearing a monocle over one eye, and holding a small black machine in both hands.

"What the hell?" he grumbled, perplexed. "Does this portal connect three universes now?"

Chapter Forty-Three

The Other North Pole

"Interesting," Finster noted, staring into the energy field with new interest. When he arrived at the North Pole at Lord Zedd's direction, he'd only found a formless focus of mysterious energy that didn't quite match anything he'd ever encountered. He'd studied it carefully, analyzing the frequency and proving without a doubt that whatever the energy was, it was not from Zordon or the Power Rangers. This field had a wholly different source, and it gnawed at the scientist's curiosity.

Then, just a moment ago, the invisible energy coalesced into a flat screen, almost like a portal. Finster had gawked in surprise at a man with a green mask, standing in stark contrast with the relative darkness of the background. He'd hurriedly recorded this finding in his notes, capturing a picture for further research.

Then, when he glanced back at the portal, its properties suddenly changed. The scenery within the portal rapidly changed, transforming into a swirling mass of blood, fire, and pure death.

Finster startled, and stumbled backwards. "Chaos!"

Regaining his courage, the genius crept closer to the portal, watching the readings on his handheld scanner with wide, fearful eyes. "This is not like when Lord Zedd summoned the Erebus. It is not just a creature being called forth. This is a hole

, opening the way to whatever chooses to pass into our dimension."

He then turned around, noting the Putty Patrolers that stood guard at the opening. "Three of you, come here!"

The Putties bowed to their leader, the three closest ones ambling into the darkness.

Finster reached into his bag of equipment, and drew out three handheld light sources. "Each of you, take one and scatter into a triangle. I want the entire cavern lit as bright as day."

The Putties followed the instructions to the letter, and the floodlights illuminated every nook and cranny in the cave.

Finster fell to his knees, running his scanner along the frozen ground. "There must be something; some kind of spell or enchanted object that opened this portal. Some way to close it, before-"

A razor-sharp pincher suddenly stretched out of the opening, snapping the air less than a foot away from Finster's head. The scientist shuddered, crawling away as crab-like creature stepped into a material realm, taking shape before his very eyes.

"A Chaotic." Finster's heart skipped a beat as the beast emerged fully, stretching its bloodthirsty claws toward him.

"Putties, attack!" he screeched.

Had the Putties been capable of basic thought or survival instinct, they would have ignored the command and raced to the exit. It was all but impossible for the drones to survive a clash with a Chaotic. However, they served their purpose. The Chaotic eagerly cleaved through the clay warriors as they crowded it, allowing Finster the precious few moments he needed to high-tail it out of the cave.

Panting with near panic, the scientist activated his own teleportation spell, whisking him to the haven of the Moon Palace. As he materialized in his laboratory, he heaved a great sigh of relief, suddenly absurdly grateful that Rita had moved the palace to the moon ten thousand years ago.

Shaking off his terror, Finster hurried toward the throne room. Surely, Lord Zedd should be informed that a portal to Chaos had opened, apparently without cause.

Chapter Forty-Four

Angel Grove

Jocelyn sighed, running her fingers through her loose hair as she paced before the Viewing Globe. "That gold guy didn't really say what he wanted with me."

"It seems like he was targeting you specifically," Trini commented. She then smirked at her own mistake. "Rather, he was targeting Kim

specifically."

Jocelyn nodded. "You're right. He did call me 'Kimberly.' But what would he want with a random high school student?"

Billy rubbed his chin. "On occasion Lord Zedd does target us individually. A few weeks ago he had Goldar kidnap Kim to make her his queen. Is it possible he decided to try again?"

Tommy stewed quietly against a console. "He'd better not," he snarled.

Jocelyn's eyes widened as she stared at Tommy, and then Billy. "You don't mean Lord Zedd actually knows you guys are the Power Rangers, do you?"

"Yes," Trini responded. "Rita Repulsa, Zedd's predecessor, knew who we were the day Zordon gave us the Power Coins. I think these evil sorcerers can detect the Power in us."

The Orange Enforcer frowned. "So what's the point of keeping secret identities if your enemies already know? I mean, doesn't it make your life that much harder?"

"IT IS THE CODE OF THE POWER RANGERS TO MAINTAIN THE SECRET," Zordon explained. "EACH ONE OF THEM HAS SACRIFICED MUCH TO SERVE AS EARTH'S DEFENDERS. SHOULD THEY REVEAL THEIR TRUE IDENTITIES TO THE PUBLIC, THEY WILL NO LONGER HAVE THE REFUGE OF A NORMAL LIFE. LIFE IN THE PUBLIC EYE IS A GREAT STRAIN, AND WOULD DISTRACT THEM FROM THEIR DUTIES."

Jocelyn chewed her lower lip, considering. "That makes sense… but it would make more

sense if the invaders couldn't just pick you off one by one in your sleep."

Zack grimaced as if the thought had never occurred to him. "Lucky for us Zedd doesn't think like that."

The image of the Denebian princess, grinning gleefully as she speared Keith with her magic-disrupting dart, made Jocelyn shiver. "Yeah, lucky you."

Even though she'd only seen Celea for a few brief moments, the bloodlust in those crimson eyes spoke volumes. She would definitely

think like that…

The sudden scream of the alarms nearly made Jocelyn jump out of her skin.

"Incredible," Billy murmured, staring at a computer screen, "It looks like the portal in the North Pole has… changed?"

"Something has emerged from it!" Alpha declared.

That caught everyone's attention.

"Can you bring up a visual?" Jason wondered.

"Can you tell if it's human?" Tommy questioned.

"What about that blizzard?" Trini pointed out.

"RANGERS," Zordon spoke, "OUR SENSORS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A FAMILIAR ENERGY SIGNATURE RADIATING FROM THE POLE."

The wise sage paused. Even though his face was blurred, Jason could see the stricken look in his luminous blue eyes.

"What is it, Zordon?" the former leader questioned.

"CHAOS."

The collective gasp of horror and surprise startled the Orange Enforcer. Her heart raced as she stared at each Ranger in turn. "What does that mean?"

Tommy was the first to recover. His open-mouthed shock slowly transformed into something entirely different: focused determination.

"It means we've got one hell of a fight on our hands," he realized. He approached the center of the computer consoles, grabbing his helmet along the way. "Zordon, is there any way to tell what we're up against?"

"UNFORTUNATELY NO. THE ATMOSPHERIC STORM HAS CALMED, BUT THE COMBINATION OF THE WEATHER AND THE OVERWHELMING ENERGY STREAMING FROM THAT LOCATION MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A CLEAR VISUAL SIGNAL, OR TO GET SAFE COORDINATES FOR TELEPORTATION."

"Then we go in blind," Tommy recognized, his face disappearing behind the stylized gold tiger's face of his helmet. "Shall we take the Zords?"

Billy frowned thoughtfully. "Without Kim we can't construct either Megazord. We'll have to take the individual ones, and it'll take us some time to cover North America."

"Then I'll provide the transportation," Jocelyn volunteered. "We need to get to the Pole pronto, and see exactly what happened to the portal that brought me here!"

"How do you plan to transport us?" Billy asked, intrigued. "Do you have the ability to teleport?"

She held up her ring. "Close enough. You get us out of this building, and point me North. I'll handle it from there."

The Rangers glanced at each other dubiously. It was Tommy who made the decision.

"Alpha, teleport us as close to the North Pole as you can. If possible, keep us clear from any cities or towns."

"You got it, Tommy."

The rest of the team collected their helmets as the robot began an area search for a safe destination. As the group huddled together, Alexis turned to Jocelyn.

"So, how fast can you fly?"

"Light speed." She could feel the disbelieving stares even through the visors, and hastily elaborated. "To do so I need to convert into a beam of light, which I guess is a lot like what you do with your teleporter. But I can't convert others into light, meaning I'll have to carry you." She then grinned. "We'll have to see how fast I can fly with passengers."

"THIS IS A SOUND PLAN, RANGERS," Zordon decided. "YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN DEGREE OF STEALTH AS YOU APPROACH THE SITE OF THE CHAOTIC ENERGY."

Zordon continued. "BILLY, BRING THE SCANNER TOMMY USED DURING HIS FIRST JOURNEY TO THE NORTH POLE. IT WILL HELP GUIDE YOU IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION, AS WELL AS GIVE YOU A BASELINE OF HOW THE PORTAL USED TO REGISTER. THIS INFORMATION MAY HELP YOU DETERMINE WHAT HAS HAPPENED."

Billy nodded, separating from the others to recover the back-mounted unit.

"I think I found a good location," Alpha announced proudly, "It's about twelve miles from the source of the energy readings. Scanners are showing it's deserted, for now."

"Perfect," Billy stated, rejoining his teammates. "We're all set to go."

"MAY THE POWER PROTECT YOU, RANGERS," Zordon spoke, watching his charges vanish in columns of energy. Even though he gave the same blessing every time the Rangers went into battle, this time the Rangers needed it more than usual.

Dread chilled the ancient mage as he imagined what horrors his young team might face. At least when the Rangers battled Erebus, he was able to offer guidance. This time, the Rangers would face an unknown threat, though the stamp of Chaos was more than enough evidence of great danger.

But that did not mean he couldn't be of some

use.

"ALPHA, LOCATE A SAFE, SPACIOUS AREA AS FAR NORTH AS POSSIBLE. THEN, TELEPORT THE THUNDER ZORDS THERE. SHOULD THE RANGERS NEED TO SUMMON THEM, THEY WILL RESPOND MORE QUICKLY."

The Edenoid robot jumped eagerly. "That's a great idea, Zordon!"

Zordon nodded, but was unable to mirror his assistant's enthusiasm.

Chapter Forty-Five

Near the North Pole

Seven beams of light coalesced on the icy tundra, the biting wind and darkened sky offering a cold welcome.

"Brrr!" Jocelyn gasped, a protective aura of energy immediately blinking to life around her. She sighed in relief as the arctic gales blew around her shield, leaving her reasonably warm.

The Power Rangers seemed undisturbed by the stark drop in temperature. She grinned wryly. Those suits are definitely

sturdier than they look.

The Blue Ranger took a reading from his scanner, and pointed. "That's the direction we're heading."

Black looked out at the ominous gray clouds hanging over their destination. He sighed. "Of course

it is."

White stepped forward, his hand already on the hilt of his trusted weapon. "Get ready, guys," he warned, his voice soft yet commanding. "We have no idea what's waiting for us up there."

All humor dropped from even Zack's countenance. The six Rangers each brandished their Power Weapons, holding them with steady, though tense, fingers.

Tommy then turned to Jocelyn. "Let's go."

She nodded, slowly levitating off the ground into the morbid sky, and held out her palm toward the Rangers. They watched as a beam of orange energy slid under their feet, stretching upward and meeting at a point above their heads, creating a translucent sphere of power.

"Hold on tight!" she called.

The Rangers did their best to balance themselves, and were barely able to maintain their footing as Orange took off, dragging them along at a speed that left the world below a dizzying, orange-hued blur.

It took only seconds. Almost as soon as they'd left, they'd arrived at the spot Jocelyn had chosen for their landing.

The sphere touched the tundra softly, and then winked out of existence, setting the Rangers on solid ground. It took a moment for the team to gather their bearings, and Jocelyn used that time to take a peek over the snow mound behind which she'd hidden their arrival.

What she saw made her blood freeze.

"Jocelyn?" Trini called, raising her voice to carry above the whistling of the arctic gusts. The snow billowing in the air, coupled with the dense clouds overhead, made the North Pole a particularly treacherous battle ground.

When the Orange Enforcer didn't answer, the Rangers hurried to her side to share her vantage point. And as a result, they shared her horrified, thunderstruck reaction.

On the plain before them, over a dozen grotesque creatures scuttled about the snow. Pinchers large enough to snap a man in half stretched from each of four forward appendages, and four other limbs let them speedily cover ground.

"Chaotics," Billy murmured, "And this time, there's more than one."

"We're outnumbered," Zack groaned fatalistically.

Tommy rose from his crouch, sheathing Saba. "We need a plan, guys." He stared numbly at the frightening battle ground before him, his heart sinking when he saw yet another horse-sized crab emerge from the cave. "A really

good one."

Part Five

Chapter Forty-Six

Jocelyn shivered at the sound of a high-pitched shriek. Even at a depth of over ten feet, she could hear the cry pound between her ears.

Or, maybe I'm not literally hearing it,

she surmised. Maybe it's telepathic.

She couldn't really say. Ever since the battle had begun with the Chaotics, her powers had been acting… strange. The nightmarish creatures seemed to radiate a dark, burning power that pierced her skull. Even at a great distance, swirling impressions of death, agony, and destruction tensed her muscles and blurred her vision. Her heart raced, her mouth was dry.

I'm not going to panic,

she resolved, clenching her shaking fist. This is me, not

panicking!

"Jocelyn? Are you okay?"

She turned and stared into the opaque visor hiding the Blue Ranger's eyes. "I don't know," she confessed. "It's like my mind is swimming. Did you… did you hear that scream before?"

Billy tensed, and Jocelyn instantly regretted asking. "No," he answered after a long pause. "All I've heard is pounding above us. The frozen earth separating us from the surface should insulate us from most sounds."

He then turned away from the Orange Enforcer, casting a worried glance down the dark tunnel in the direction from which they came.

Jocelyn watched him for a moment, her heart twisting sympathetically. If it had been her

friends fighting for their lives against mysterious and terrifying creatures, she'd probably hurtle back through the tunnel to aid them. Or even blast right through the ground under which they traveled, giving away their location and their strategy.

She reached for the distracted Ranger's shoulder. "I was probably wrong, Billy. These monsters, they have a weird aura that's screwing with my powers. I think I'm… hearing things."

Billy nodded slowly. "You're probably right," he decided, his voice a sigh. "In either case, the most good we can do is complete our task. Let's keep moving."

Jocelyn smiled encouragingly, despite the fact that her mask hid her expression. Then, she turned back to the solid earth that blocked her path, braced herself on her knees, and raised her arms.

Orange energy flowed from her palms, carefully penetrating the ground and forcing a narrow tunnel through the frozen soil. The broken earth was then packed neatly into the newly-formed walls, held in place by a faintly glowing orange force field.

Jocelyn crawled deeper into the makeshift tunnel, the Blue Ranger close behind her. She sighed, remembering the shriek that had shaken her just a minute ago. In her heart, she was terrified that it was a Ranger, screaming in agony as one of the Chaotics used its deadly pinchers to lop off a limb, or crush bones… Stop it!! This isn't productive at all

! Focus on the plan… focus on the plan. She grimaced. Maybe this wasn't such a great plan after all. How long can five Power Rangers distract all those demon freaks anyway?

It had seemed like a logical strategy to accomplish their most immediate goal: figure out what had happened to the portal that had transported Jocelyn Armand into an alternate Earth under the guard of the Power Rangers. When they'd arrived at the North Pole, they'd been greeted with a terrifying sight: a small army of creatures roughly the size of horses, each armed with pinchers large enough to slice a full grown man in half. And they all circled the mouth of the cave, which was their only hope of getting any answers.

Since Billy was the technical genius, and Jocelyn was capable of piercing and shaping the frozen ground with her powers, they were chosen to tunnel beneath the battle field, scan the portal, and deliver whatever information they could to the Command Center.

As the ground was frozen, it was tedious work. The precision required, coupled with the pounding on Jocelyn's head thanks to the Chaotics, made the tunneling all the more challenging.

Fighting back another wave of fear and distraction, Jocelyn focused on the task at hand, drilling through the earth with rays of light at her fastest pace. The pair worked in silence, the Blue Ranger carefully watching the scanner in his hands, until he finally reached out and touched her leg.

"This is it," he reported. "The cave should be right above us."

"Are you detecting anything?"

"We're too deep to pick up specific energy patterns in detail, but there's a great deal of activity." He frowned deeply behind his helmet. "Let's get up there and see with our own eyes."

Jocelyn nodded, straightening on her knees. She touched her palms to the makeshift ceiling, closed her eyes, and concentrated.

"Hang on to me, Billy," she advised.

The Blue Ranger did as she asked, holding on to her waist just as the orange aura began to brighten. Then, she launched herself upward, carrying Billy with her through the layers of dirt, rock, and ice.

They emerged in a small cavern, eerily illuminated with red light pulsing from a large two-dimensional portal.

And they weren't alone.

"Billy!" Jocelyn shrieked in warning. Reflexes honed after over a year of service as a Power Ranger made the genius dodge just in time to avoid being caught in the sharp pinchers of one of the crab-like Chaotics.

Billy rolled into a crouch beside Jocelyn, drawing his Blade Blaster and opening fire. Jocelyn immediately responded, fisting her hands and adding twin beams of orange light to the barrage. The monster flailed helplessly, unable to resist the pummeling dual attack, until it shrank into itself and burst into an acrid smoke.

The Blue Ranger sighed, holstering his weapon. "We're in the clear."

"No," Jocelyn murmured, her voice stricken, "there's another one."

He followed the Orange Enforcer's line of sight, and stared in shock at the portal. An array of insectoid legs stretched from the opening, wriggling like worms and carrying a cylindrical body into the material realm.

Billy grimaced at the sight of the large creature, over seven feet in length with curved horns stretching from its anterior like antlers. Its countless legs swayed like hairs in the ocean, carrying it over the ground with shocking speed.

The new monster wasted no time and charged the two humans, its horns glinting in the dim light. Billy quickly drew his Power Lance and braced himself.

He greeted the Chaotic with a sharp swing, forcing the monster to turn its head and keep the piercing horns from meeting flesh. However, the sheer power of the monster's charge sent Billy crashing into the wall, the monster's body pulverizing several inches of solid rock as he pressed the Blue Ranger through the cave's wall.

"Billy!" Jocelyn cried, mustering her power. A vivid flash of orange flooded the cave as tendrils of energy stretched from her body, wrapping the millipede-like monster and dragging it backward. The monster thrashed against her grip, growling shrilly, until she finally managed to throw it into the opposite wall hard enough to cause small rocks and dust to snow from the roof of the cave.

She stood on shaking legs as she watched the monster. It never stopped wriggling, even after hitting the wall with a resounding thud. It rolled back onto its legs almost immediately, turning toward the warm orange glow.

Jocelyn took a deep breath and stretched her reach for the monster again. This time, instead of throwing it she tried holding it in the air, intending to generate a sealed energy bubble to imprison it.

But then, the dull pounding between her ears erupted into a stabbing pain, stunning her into releasing her grip. She collapsed to the cold ground, her head spinning, oblivious to the charging monster that rapidly closed the distance between them…

..until another battering ram of power streaked from the cave's mouth, plowing the monster off course just three feet from the Orange Enforcer.

"Billy! Jocelyn!" Zack called breathlessly, racing into the cave with the Cosmic Cannon balanced between his hands. He trained his weapon on the monster again, standing just in front of Jocelyn and letting the energy fly once again.

The monster didn't have a chance to recover this time. The destructive power of the Cannon, intensified by its point-blank range, pierced its plated body and made the creature vanish.

Sighing with relief, Zack leaned his cannon against his shoulder and tapped Jocelyn's arm.

"Hey, you okay?"

Her breaths came in short puffs, but she did manage to reply. "Yeah. Got the migraine of the millennium, but otherwise I'm okay." She kneaded her temples slowly. "How'd you know we needed help?"

"The orange explosion was kinda hard to miss."

Jocelyn glanced up, watching as the Black Ranger hurried over to the smoking, cracked wall just behind them. Billy hung spread-eagle in the wall, held fast by the Ranger-size mold his body had dug into the stone.

"Billy? Can you hear me, man?"

A wordless groan answered, urging him to dematerialize the Cosmic Cannon and carefully extricate Billy from the depression. Zack propped his dazed teammate against his shoulder.

At this point, Jocelyn had managed to drag herself to her feet, though she was still weak at the knees. "Is he okay?"

"Stunned," Zack replied. "Help me get this scanner off him."

Jocelyn approached, taking the back-mounted device off the Blue Ranger's shoulders, when she noticed the deep cracks and sparking wires on the unit.

She sighed in defeat. "It's broken. It must've happened when the monster hit Billy against the wall."

The Black Ranger released a frustrated grunt. "Then we're back to square one!"

Jocelyn exhaled loudly, almost like a balloon deflating. Her shoulders slumped as exhaustion, pain, and misery finally crushed the last of her spirit.

It isn't fair,

she lamented, fighting the urge to sniffle. Without the scanner, we can't even figure out what changed the portal. I'm stranded here, all alone. I'll have to stay in Angel Grove… assuming I survive this battle against Chaos, anyway.

It was just too much to bear.

Sighing in remorse, the visitor from an alternate reality dared to glance at the magical portal that had caused so much trouble for two dimensions. What would pass through the gateway to Hell next? Trolls with pitchforks? Fire-breathing dragons? Or just more terrifying giant bugs?

She blinked in shock at the sight before her: a very familiar, and very much missed, young man in green.

"Matt!"

Chapter Forty-Seven

"Jocelyn!!"

He'd been screaming at the portal for nearly a full minute, his frustration mounting exponentially as each moment passed. She was standing right in front of him, alive and unhurt. So close, yet an entire universe away.

After he'd seen the goat-like creature appear in the window, Matthew's curiosity refused to let him leave. He decided to monitor the portal, leaving the cave only when the creatures appeared too quickly for him to destroy alone.

He'd come to recognize a pattern. Right after a few creatures passed through the portal, it turned from a blood red color into something very dark. He recognized the near-black background from when he saw the goat creature.

That confirmed there were at least two universes connected to his own via the portal. But was this second universe the same one that Kimberly Hart called home?

He found his answer a minute ago. After struggling against a powerful flying demon, Matt turned back to the portal, and his jaw dropped in shock when he was greeted to a brilliant orange glow.

He watched, his heart in his throat, as Jocelyn fought against some other horrible monster with the aid of a man in a blue and white costume, likely the Blue Power Ranger. He began calling her name as soon as he recognized her. He tried to jump through the portal as soon as the Blue hero was clobbered by the dark creature. He'd begun to panic when Jocelyn faced the monster alone.

He'd cursed obscenities, tried to fire energy through the portal, and reached for Jocelyn through their telepathic link, all to no avail.

But now, the danger had passed. Jocelyn had been aided by another local hero, this one in Black. And she finally saw him.

"Hang on, Jocie," he urged. "We will

get you out of there."

He knew she couldn't hear a word he was saying, but at least she could see him now. So he held his hand palm out as close to the portal as he could manage, as if he were pressing it against a pane of glass.

Jocelyn paused, staring at him for a moment. She then mimicked his gesture, her hand aligning with his own.

But then, the image in the portal shifted again, Jocelyn disappearing as the angry red returned.

Matthew backed away, his jaw set in determination. "We're coming, Jocie," he promised.

He mustered his power, his muscles tingling in anticipation at the thought of unleashing his frustrations on whatever demonic creature would pass through the portal next. This one he'd destroy as soon as it dared enter his

reality.

But before the creature appeared, he spared a moment to deliver a message to the rest of the Spectrum Force. *Guys! I saw Jocelyn through the portal! She's okay… for now, at least.*

The wave or relief that streamed through the psychic link brought a small smile to Matt's. Now the Force knew

their sixth member was alive… and that only made them intensify their efforts.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Kimberly paced beside the open window, occasionally glancing at the calm green of the Dreiser University campus. But the pristine view of gathering students, leisurely yards, and austere administrative buildings failed to impress her.

Instead, her gaze kept climbing to the blue sky, almost as if she could see the faint trails of purple and yellow energy that Tamara and Rachel had left in their wake.

Tamara's parting words echoed in her ear. "Kim, we've got to get going. Keith needs us. You'll be safe here."

The Pink Ranger scoffed. Hmph. Safe.

She didn't want to be "safe." She wanted to be useful. The Spectrum Force had been summoned back to the North Pole by the Red Enforcer, apparently because he had found some resistance there. Had the Denebians done something to the portal? Where they guarding it for some evil purpose? Or did whatever creature the princess intended to summon finally emerge?

The thoughts made Kimberly shiver. That portal is my only way home. If something happened to it… I'll never see my friends and family again.

She squeezed her eyes closed, fighting back tears at the heartbreaking thought. She was never one to dwell on the negative. She was always optimistic, always ready to believe that all problems could be solved, and all battles could be won.

Of course, it was much easier to believe that if one had the ability to do something other than wait on the sidelines.

Is this what Tommy felt like when he lost his powers? When he watched the rest of us risk our necks day after day, wishing he could do something

?

Kim stuffed her hand in her pocket, fishing out her Morpher. Offering a silent prayer, she held the device at arm's length and cried "Pterodactyl!"

She willed the Power to heed her call. She begged and pleaded for the might of the Pterodactyl to suffuse her. She could almost feel the rush of power beyond human comprehension flooding her, giving her the might to take action, to fight her way back to Angel Grove.

But nothing happened.

Crestfallen, Kim threw herself onto the couch, folding her arms and pouting in frustration. It was hopeless. She was useless.

*Now now, Child… there is no need to work yourself into a rage. You are far from useless. You are the key to restoring balance between our two Realms.*

Kim jumped to her feet, raising her arms defensively as she scanned the room. She couldn't determine from where the voice had come… because she heard it in her mind.

Then, a tiny spark of light appeared a few feet from her, hovering over the floor. Tendrils of energy stretched from the core, until a human shape appeared.

An old man with alabaster skin, cottony beard, flowing robes, and kind sapphire eyes.

She gulped. "You read my mind?"

He smiled. "My apologies, Kimberly. Sometimes strong emotions cause a person to trumpet out their thoughts. I hadn't intended to eavesdrop."

Slowly, Kim's defensive stance relaxed. "Who are you?"

"Luminus. I am Spectra's friend, and I am here to help fix the various problems young Celea managed to create."

He held his hand to her. "We must go to the ship now. There, we will decide the appropriate actions to take."

She hesitated. After all, she'd never met this man, and she had no evidence that he was in fact trustworthy. However, his kind eyes and open smile reminded her so much of Zordon, she felt drawn to him.

She took a chance, and took his hand.

The world went white for a split-second, as if a camera had flashed in her eyes. Then, gradually, the sterile equipment of the Spectrum Force's base came into focus.

She looked around, and relaxed minutely when she met a familiar gaze. Spectra tried to smile at her, but the anxiety in her peach-hued eyes simply couldn't be masked. Her entire body was tense, like a coiled serpent ready to spring.

Kim's throat tightened. "What's going on?"

"We've arrived to a point approximately twenty miles from the North Pole. The Force battles a group of monsters the likes of which I have never seen!" Spectra responded. "They feel so wrong…"

"Chaos and Order are never in harmony," Luminus spoke. "These creatures come from the First Realm, and their aura of devastating hunger and consuming madness is difficult to tune out to those who are sensitive. You and your Force show discipline and concentration when you wield your powers. The touch of Chaos interferes with order, challenging your team to maintain control of their powers."

Spectra's eyes narrowed. "They are not experienced enough to block out that kind of distraction. I will go to them-"

"Not yet. They have held up quite well against these creatures so far. They do not seem in particular danger."

Then, to everyone's surprise, Kimberly raised her voice. "Are you nuts?? They're battling Chaotics

! As in plural! How can they not

be in 'particular danger'

?"

Luminus stared at the petite girl, curiosity raising his brow. "And what do you know of Chaos, Kimberly?"

"Lord Zedd, the alien emperor bent on taking over Earth, summoned this totally gross thing called Erebus about a month ago," she elaborated. "It took everything we had to defeat it, and then some! And we were a complete team. Your Force down there is minus one! They're not even at full strength!"

Spectra blinked. "You mean your Earth has been exposed to Chaos? That is… incredible."

Luminus nodded his agreement. "Chaos seldom crosses with material Realms. Such forces are tremendously powerful, and impossible to control. They exist to destroy." He then shook his head. "At least we now know what Celea was trying to do. She attempted to create a portal to Chaos, and inadvertently bridged our world with Kimberly's. She had opened the wrong kind of portal, connecting to the wrong Realm."

"So my being here is just a mistake?" Kim concluded.

"A mistake Celea has since corrected," Spectra pointed out. "What does this mean for Kimberly's chances to return home?"

Kim paled at the frightening possibility. "Is… the portal to Angel Grove even there anymore?"

"We shall see shortly." Luminus took Kimberly by the shoulders, guiding the distraught girl to a chair. "For now, I need you to relax, Kimberly. Relax, and think of your home."

The first part was definitely a challenge, but the last part came naturally. Kimberly did her best to calm her mind, dwelling on happy memories of home. Images of her school, her friends, her family, and even her triumphs as the Pink Ranger flooded her consciousness. She managed to disconnect herself from most of her anxiety, burying her mind in the smiling faces of her loved ones, until one startling memory came to mind. Ohmigosh! I missed the PSATs!! Mom's gonna kill me when I get home!

Luminus stood behind her, his hands hovering a few inches from her temples. He disregarded her last distracting thought, focusing instead on the lives with which the girl before him had connected. Her memories were flashes of her Realm, and her yearning to return shined like a beacon, reaching out to her home.

Spectra watched silently as both Luminus and Kimberly seemed to be lost in meditation. Then, gossamer threads of energy stretched from Kimberly to Luminus' hands.

She stared in awe at the magic filling the small chamber in the ship. Shaking off her stupor, she turned her attention to the monitors that displayed the Spectrum Force, who held nothing back as they countered the unnatural creatures that assaulted them.

At least there was no sign of the princess. It was a small comfort, but Spectra couldn't help relief that she wasn't out there, leading her misbegotten army.

Then, curiosity blossomed in her mind. This must have been Celea's scheme all along. But where is she? Why isn't she basking in the glow of her insane accomplishment?

Chapter Forty-Nine

Spectra wasn't the only one to wonder about the princess' whereabouts.

Phaedra stared out at the dinner table, her gaze thunderous. Celea had not heeded her summons. Again.

May the gods damn Acheron for sending her here!

she snarled silently. So far, all she's managed to do is distract me from my research! How will I ever find the Nightfall if I'm constantly tracking Celea down??

Her frustration mounting, Phaedra closed her eyes and searched for her daughter. However, instead of touching her errant child's mind, her eyes widened with shock as she hit an unexpected barrier of power, lurking ominously over the Earth.

Her first response was outrage. Celea was not on the ship, and something was happening on Earth! Again! She focused her formidable powers more intently, attempting to Rein her daughter back to the ship. However, even the Rein spell couldn't penetrate whatever magical force had swallowed the apex of the planet.

Her lips twisted as all the pieces fell into place. "Stubborn brat! I told

her not to toy with inter-dimensional boundaries! She'll destroy the whole star system!"

She rose from the dinner table, throwing her chair into the wall with a satisfying crunch as she approached the door. "How dare she disobey me? I will make

her submit! I will not tolerate insubordination! I'll seal her in a pit until she grows out of this damned stage!"

She marched through the halls with purpose, her flashing eyes giving adequate warning to all aboard to make way. Soon she stepped onto the bridge of the Flagship, startling the crew.

"Run a full scan on the northern extreme of the Earth," she commanded. "What's happening down there?"

The crewmembers hurriedly carried out the monarch's order. Phaedra watched, eyes narrow, as the main screen was swallowed by an image of the globe. Then, it began to zoom in on the designated area.

Far before the scan penetrated the cloud cover, the screen suddenly broke into static.

The technician manning the scanner gulped. "There is… interference, my Empress. We can't get a clear visual below the stratosphere."

Phaedra's lips twisted into a horrible grimace, filled with rage, impatience, and not a small amount of fear. "Do whatever you can to get me some information."

She whirled around and strode off the bridge without another word. A few minutes later she'd crossed the ship, throwing open the heavy doors to her private quarters with but a thought.

Without preamble, she settled on the cold floor, closed her eyes, and concentrated every fiber of her being. If she couldn't see what was happening on Earth remotely, she would have to handle matters personally.

Chapter Fifty

Keith dodged behind an outcropping of icy stone as quickly as possible without dropping the body in his arms. A heartbeat later, a stray stream of corrosive liquid crashed into the spot where he'd stood a moment before, melting the stone into slag.

The Red Enforcer huffed with frustration as he rose again to his feet, carefully cradling Princess Celea as he risked hovering up a few meters to the next crevice in the jagged rock formation.

About a hundred feet below, Tamara, Craig, and Rachel struggled against a swarm of creepy-crawlers. The first bunch had resembled spiders, and despite their horrifying appearance they weren't too difficult to overpower. However, the second wave of creatures had wings, making them much more evasive. And they also had the ability to spit acidic goo that ate anything it touched.

Now, the new creatures numbered ten, meaning the rest of the Force simply couldn't destroy the monsters at the same rate the damned portal brought them to Earth.

And here I am trying to protect our enemy

, while my friends are fighting for their lives!

Keith held the unconscious girl a little tighter as he crossed a particularly perilous ledge, searching for some cover. As he adjusted his grip, he felt her tremble.

"Okay, that's a good sign," he acknowledged, "At least she's not dead… but there's nothing I can do if her condition gets worse."

Not for the first time, the Red Enforcer wondered why he was so determined to protect the one that started

this entire nightmare to begin with.

"She might be useful," he rationalized, "If she opened this portal into the Twilight Zone, she can probably close it."

He sighed, his eyes falling to the hideous wound that split her cheek. He stared at her ashen face, and felt himself grimace at the concern he felt for her.

Who'm I kidding? I helped her because I couldn't

just leave her there. She's crazy as hell, but she's just a kid. How old can she be? Fourteen? Fifteen?

He took a breath, strengthening the shield of crimson energy surrounding her body, keeping out the brunt of the polar cold.

He'd taken refuge high in the cliff face in which the cave was found, giving him an excellent view of the battle while at the same time keeping off the monsters' radar… so long as he kept himself and his charge hidden.

Only when he felt a sudden wash of dark power did he realize that he hadn't hidden quite well enough.

Oh God…

The young man gulped awkwardly. Horrible, furious power wafted toward him like heat drifting out of an open oven. It took all of his considerable courage to simply turn around, and face this newest threat.

His eyes widened. Standing just a few yards from him was a woman, tall and elegant, her eyes burning like crimson suns. Her power crawled around her body like fire, holding off the biting winds, but still stabbing Keith's vague sense of magic.

Then, her snarling crimson lips parted. "You dare touch the Denebian princess, Human?"

The empress was powerful. Incredibly powerful. Not to mention extremely pissed off. There's nothing more dangerous than a mother protecting her child. Keith didn't have a chance, and he knew it.

Yet, oddly enough, he was no longer scared senseless. Her tone pricked his sense of pride, helping loosen his tongue.

"If I didn't 'touch' her, Phaedra, she'd be dead right now!"

The empress' eyebrow quirked slightly. She obviously hadn't anticipated such a bold response.

Still, she made no move to kill Keith; probably because his vital organs were shielded by Celea's body.

Keith pressed his advantage. "I don't know what you guys are trying to do here, but this is beyond insane! Those monsters almost tore your daughter in half! If we didn't get here in time, she probably wouldn't have survived."

Those blazing eyes narrowed. "You expect me to believe you aren't responsible for Celea's injuries?"

A startled grimace pulled his mask. "I've seen this girl fight. I don't think I can cause this kind of damage."

The pair fell into a silent standoff, Keith watching the empress warily. He knew she was less than stable; he remembered quite clearly how mercilessly she treated her prisoner Gaius on the planet Edenia. What would she do now?

Then, Phaedra glanced to the side, toward the battle below. Keith dared not spare his friends a glance, instead reading the empress' expression the best he could.

Surprisingly, she gave little away. Her face was set in stone, though her eyes danced with power begging to be unleashed.

He gulped as those eyes trained on him once again. "What will you do now, Human?"

He hesitated. In all honesty, he figured he'd just react to whatever Phaedra threw at him… assuming he lived long enough to react. Now, the ball was in his court.

He dropped his eyes to Celea, watching the blood ooze from the open cut on her face. His own uniform was blotched with her blood, from numerous cuts and bruises.

She was a mess, pure and simple.

And there's nothing I can do about it. I can't take her to our base; there's too much at risk if she recovers. And no hospital on Earth can treat an alien… not to mention the danger of keeping Celea hostage with Phaedra hovering around.

His face hardened. I won't

just let her die.

Then, he came to a decision. He followed his gut instinct.

His power coalesced around the princess, brightening the crimson light. He saw Phaedra tense, but she didn't move.

The red energy carried the princess across the space between the powers of light and darkness, and settled her listless body into her mother's arms.

Phaedra relaxed only minutely, and only after the crimson energy had faded completely. She blinked, her eyes passing from Keith to Celea's face and back again. Then, her accusing stare locked on Keith.

He chose to answer the unspoken question. "I can't help her. You probably can."

The proud empress blinked again, the stony mask cracking just enough to register some of her shock.

The Red Enforcer tensed, and waited. What would the empress do now? Finish him off? Retreat with her injured daughter? She probably had the power to do both at once.

Finally, she moved. She gave him a shallow nod. "The creatures you face are of Chaos. They will ravage your entire planet unless you defeat them here."

It took a long time for Keith to find his voice. "You're… helping us?"

Her lip twisted angrily. "Celea opened the portal against my wishes. If this portal is not closed, eventually creatures with far greater power will emerge. They won't be satisfied razing this planet, either. They will consume everything, and nothing in the Empire can hope to control them."

Her crimson gaze passed to the battleground again. "These creatures are minor Chaotics. As they are smaller and more numerous, they pass through the portal first. However, the longer the portal remains open, the better chance a more powerful creature will find it. You must close the portal to stop the invasion."

Keith scratched his head. "How do we do that?"

"It depends on how the portal was opened, and I…" her gaze dropped to her daughter. "…don't know what Celea has done. But your best immediate option is to block the portal, and prevent more creatures from passing through. That will buy you time until you figure out how to close the portal permanently."

Keith opened his mouth to ask another question, but the empress suddenly vanished. He stared at the spot in which she'd stood for several moments, a small smile appearing on his masked face.

"Thanks."

Chapter Fifty-One

"I have it," Luminus murmured. He took two steps away and turned, reaching his sparking hands at arm's length above his head. He then traced a tall rectangle in the air, leaving a trail of energy behind. Once the shape was complete, the four corners flashed once, sending energy into the center that spread to the edges.

"And there you have it," Luminus stated, smiling in amusement at both Kim and Spectra's open-mouthed surprise. "This is the only Realm in existence that matches Kimberly's signature precisely."

Kim recovered enough from her surprise to mutter a faint "Huh?"

"It is almost like tuning into the frequency of your home. By focusing on events and individuals in your Realm, you resonate with the signature of that Realm. That made it possible for me to 'feel' what your home Realm is like, and then find it in the Multiverse."

"But, how did you find it so quickly?" Spectra wondered. "The Multiverse is limitless."

"We were fortunate, in this case, because it is far easier to find Realms that are close to our own. Had Kimberly come from a reality vastly different, then it would have taken much longer to pinpoint it."

Kim then jumped to her feet, staring into the window as an image took shape. She saw the rich darkness of the night sky, with stars twinkling peacefully in the blanket of space. Below stood thick clouds, dark yet visible in the pale light.

"Where is this?"

"That is the exact spot we reside in now," Luminus explained. "However, since there isn't a ship hovering in the stratosphere in your reality, the other end of this portal stands in open air."

Kim frowned, puzzled. "So how exactly do I pass through? Strap on a parachute?"

He shook his head solemnly. "Unfortunately, you will not be able to use this portal."

"Why?"

He waved her closer. "Try it."

She threw him a dubious look. "If I get sucked in, who'll catch me before I go 'splat' on the ground?"

An amused smile appeared. "Should that miraculously happen, I shall be sure to follow you through the portal and catch you."

Despite her reservations Kim decided to obey him, tentatively approaching the gateway to her home reality with her hands extended, as if she expected to hit an invisible wall. Just as her fingers brushed the "surface" of the portal, tendrils of energy flashed, pushing her away.

Kimberly stumbled back, more surprised than harmed. She rubbed her fingers, which tingled slightly as if the blood flow had been momentarily interrupted. "I don't understand," she confessed.

"Yes," Spectra noted, folding her arms. "This makes no sense."

Luminus stepped away from the portal. "I will explain. When I scanned Kimberly's aura for her home world, I felt a strange connection. Almost like an anchor. And the other end of that anchor is without a doubt the portal down on Earth."

Kim grimaced. "I don't feel drawn to that portal."

"It is beyond your realm of sensation, but it exists. And it is strong. I can only conclude that this is an aspect of the bridge Celea created. That portal traded you and Jocelyn, maintaining a cosmic balance. As a result, you can't return to your world until Jocelyn returns here. And your only doorway is the original portal."

The Pink Ranger fell back into the chair as if all her strength had evaporated. She squeezed her eyes to hold back frustrated tears. She was so close…

Luminus lay his hand on her shoulder. "Remember Child, if you are still bound to that original portal, that proves it still exists. Your path home waits for you."

Kim looked up into the sage's smiling eyes, trying her best to take solace in his encouraging words. But, she couldn't shake the fear that returning to Angel Grove would be much more difficult than merely stepping through a doorway.

Then, Spectra raised her voice. "At least we have found Kimberly's dimension. If I step through, I can telepathically reach Jocelyn and instruct her to return to the North Pole for the exchange. Then we'll be prepared when-"

Her suggestion died on her lips as she suddenly closed her eyes. Kimberly watched, startled, as shock plainly etched itself on the warrior's face.

She turned, and noticed that Luminus too had closed his eyes. Only instead of surprise, his face lit with wry amusement.

"That isn't possible, High Father," Spectra stated, folding her arms. "Keith must be mistaken. Or he's been deceived by that witch."

"Or, perhaps you aren't taking in the full picture," Luminus interrupted, smiling at his student. "Remember, the empress has a stake in this battle as well. Should the Chaotics destroy the Earth, which they ultimately will if left unchecked, then there is nothing left for the Denebians to conquer."

Kimberly's frown deepened when she realized both Luminus and Spectra seemed to have forgotten her presence. "What are you talking about? What happened?"

Spectra turned to the inter-dimensional visitor. "We've received a message from Keith. Apparently, Phaedra has suggested a method to slow the invasion of the Chaotics."

Kim blinked. "Phaedra? As in the evil space alien bent on taking over the world?"

"The very same," Luminus answered. "And frankly, I'm disappointed that I hadn't thought of it myself. It's a brilliant way to calm down the battleground, and assure safe transit for yourself and Jocelyn."

He settled his hands on Kimberly's shoulders. "Spectra and I will descend to the Earth and prepare the portal for your transit. You wait here until preparations are complete, and the area is safe for an unpowered human."

He noticed her tense, and chastised her with a shake of his head. "We will have you home shortly, Kimberly. Please be patient."

The petite girl bit her lower lip, visibly struggling with her anxiety, but she offered a curt nod. Luminus then turned to Spectra.

"You must contact your Force and inform them of our plan. Should the seal work, they will be able to defeat the remaining Chaotics without much difficulty."

Spectra nodded, and together the two seasoned warriors approached the hatch. White light burned around them as they dropped into the atmosphere, carried by currents of magic as they approached the battleground.

Spectra reached out her consciousness to the five humans fighting tooth and nail against an endless enemy. *Spectrum Force! We have come up with a plan that should help us set everything right.*

She felt the relief and excitement erupt from her team, and continued. *We will place a sealing spell into the portal, and prohibit the Chaotics from replenishing their forces. Once you destroy the monsters already on Earth, we will be able to restore Jocelyn and Kimberly, and permanently seal the portal.*

*Yes!* Tamara cheered, *Thank God you're back, Spectra!*

Spectra smiled at the warm greeting. *I believe we will need one of you to help fend off any creatures that pass through the portal during the casting.*

*I'm on it,* Matt responded immediately.

*Spectra?* Craig responded. *Who is this 'we' you keep mentioning?*

*I have an ally you will all meet shortly. For now, be careful and be confident. This battle nears its end.*

She then drew her mind back, just in time to see flashes of energy and blotches of blackness amidst the swirling snow and winds. They had reached the battleground, which was pot-marked with energy blasts and black ooze from the nightmarish creatures that hobbled along the tundra or flew in the bitter currents of air.

She blinked. "There is more than one type of Chaotic here."

Luminus nodded grimly. "The longer the portal remains open, the more Chaotics will learn of its existence. With time, surely very powerful creatures will pass through."

"Then let us waste no more of it," Spectra decided, her feet touching the snow. She raised her staff, and opened fire at the flying creature that had approached them. After several moments, the creature erupted in a burst of dark energy, opening the path for Spectra and Luminus to hurry into the cave.

The cave was brightly illuminated with a warm green glow. As the pair of seasoned warriors passed cautiously through the narrow opening, they were met by a loud pounding, followed by an even brighter burst of energy and a horrible shriek.

Scowling, Spectra ran ahead, her staff glowing as she mustered energy for an attack. However, when her gaze finally fell upon her student, the ferocity slipped off her face, replaced by concern.

Matthew leaned against the unyielding rock wall, panting heavily while cradling his leg just above the knee. Even in the dimming light, Spectra could see the deep red quickly saturating the vivid green of his costume at the site of the wound.

"That… last one got a good hit in," Matt hissed between gritted teeth.

As she approached, Spectra could make out numerous bloody gashes marking the slim Green Enforcer. All his other wounds were shallow compared to the one slicing open his thigh, but nonetheless Spectra felt her concern rise. And the way the young man's shoulders heaved with each breath spoke volumes.

"I'll take you back to the ship," she decided, reaching for his arm. "We can-"

"No!" There was a steely note in his voice that startled his mentor. "We don't have time! We'll only see the Power Rangers' world for another twenty seconds at most!"

Luminus inspected the portal, frowning at the black nothingness projected. "This is the dimension where our Orange Enforcer is presently?"

Matthew nodded, finally easing into Spectra's grip to take the weight off his injured leg. "I saw Jocelyn and a couple Power Rangers about fifteen minutes ago. Then the red distortion came, and a few seconds later a monster passed through." He winced as he and Spectra began moving, approaching the portal and Luminus. "After that, the portal turned white for a few seconds, and then the blackness came. I'm pretty sure that's the same cave Jocelyn was just in; they must've pulled back. Without Jocelyn there to illuminate the cave, we can't see anything."

Spectra glanced at the Green Enforcer sideways. "So the Power Rangers and Jocelyn are already at the site of the portal? That should make our job much easier."

"Even though they may be physically near the portal, we cannot communicate with them across dimensions," Luminus realized. "The exchange must be executed on both sides if this is to work."

The portal then flashed red, causing all three to take a cautious step back.

"We've got about twenty to forty seconds before a monster passes through," Matt pointed out, drawing away from Spectra. "We can expect one to three monsters to come through at one time."

Spectra frowned deeply at Matthew, who couldn't hold a pained hiss as he put weight on his leg. "And you've been standing vigil in this cave all alone, fighting off each monster that has passed through the portal since Jocelyn last appeared?"

Matt tensed at the rebuke in her tone. "Not… exactly. If there were too many for me to fight, I led them out of the cave, threw them out, or called some backup. It's too cramped for the whole Force to fight in here."

Spectra's gaze slid back to Matt's most prominent wound. "You've fought enough today. Go back to the ship." This time, it was an order. "You can hardly stand, much less fight."

Grimacing beneath his mask, Matthew focused his power. A warm green glow saturated his body, lifting him off weakened legs and letting him hover ominously a foot off the ground. "I don't need to stand to fight, Spectra."

Spectra clenched her fists. Since when had Matthew been so recklessly stubborn?

"Spectra, to my side!"

She refrained from responding to Matthew's insubordination, choosing instead to lead by example and obey her own mentor's direction. The elder's hands stretched toward the portal, a faint nimbus of energy outlining his hands.

He stepped to the side of the portal, nodding for Spectra to follow. "Matthew," he spoke, "there are two creatures passing between here and Chaos. You must push them out of the cave immediately. Do not try to fight them here; I must begin casting the spell as quickly as possible to make sure I don't miss the next window. Push them out, and then you and your teammates can make quick work of them." He spared the young man a potent glance. "Do you understand?"

Matthew nodded, his aura intensifying as he gathered his strength. A heartbeat later, the portal flashed, drawing two more winged abominations into a realm of matter.

Matthew reached out with his powers, latching on to each creature and hurling them toward the cave's mouth before their misshapen feet touched the soil. He then streaked after them, ignoring the throbbing in his head, the fire in his leg, and the ache in his heart.

Spectra watched him leave, her face drawn with concern. "He's too badly wounded to continue, High Father."

"He will not rest until Orange is found," Luminus said sagely. "His thoughts are consumed with determination to rescue her. There is no sense in trying to convince him to take another course of action; not when time is limited."

He then drew his open palms together, urging the light of his power to intensify. "Spectra, you recall how to create force field spells?"

She blinked her disbelief. "Of course!"

"Good; creating a seal within a Multiversal portal is very similar. The key, as always, is to make the barrier 'fit' the circumstances, to make sure nothing leaks. Now, pay attention."

His fingers began swaying, weaving tendrils of magic and creating a shimmering lens just in front of the portal. "Now I'm calibrating the seal to withstand the Chaotic energies that still permeate this cave. Once Chaos reopens, I can cast the seal within that tunnel, and fasten it there."

After several moments more, the consuming blackness in the portal gave way to fierce red. Then, Luminus extended his hands, and the portal flashed.

Spectra jumped back, reflexes demanding she cover her eyes. When she opened them again, the portal gleamed before her, the angry red appearing vaguely pink through the translucent barrier.

"So, it's done?" Spectra murmured. "The portal is sealed?"

He nodded. "Remember, this is only a temporary fix. I calibrated this seal to withstand the energies we've already faced here, meaning if a more powerful Chaotic attempts to pass through, the seal may not hold. So long as I stay near the portal, I should be able to adapt the seal to compensate; assuming I am able to make the adjustments in time." He then stared through the mouth of the portal. "Retrieve Kimberly, and then see that everyone reports here as soon as they are able. We may have averted catastrophe in this Realm, but I fear great danger threatens the other Realm."

Spectra nodded, her face grim.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Keith twisted in the air, narrowly avoiding ravenous claws and the furious bat of a leathery wing. *I'm clear! Fire!!*

Bright yellow energy collided with the wayward monster, hitting it in the underbelly and mercilessly pummeling it in Keith's direction.

Keith smirked fiercely, his hands flashing as he summoned an answering stream of power, plowing into the monster on the other end.

It took only a moment for the dual-assault to disintegrate the creature.

"We're making progress," Tamara noted, descending to Keith's side. "Only five to go."

"Four," Keith corrected, grinning as Rachel slashed through another Chaotic with her Dia-Staff. Craig was also relying on his handheld weapon as he battled another Chaotic high in the sky.

Below, Keith watched the Green Enforcer's aura charge with blinding light. The freshman flew headfirst into a Chaotic, and Keith watched in slack-jawed shock as the creature staggered. Matthew pivoted for another volley, but the creature quickly recovered its bearings, turning and opening its maw…

"It's gonna spit!" Keith growled, diving below. His hands squeezed the air, driving his powers deep into the frozen, rock-solid soil of the North Pole.

Matthew gasped just as he saw his target vomit the deadly corrosive acid, and tried to dodge out of the way… when a sudden wall of red-tinged snow and earth erupted from the ground, three feet thick and six feet high, just in front of the Chaotic. The corrosive liquid ate away at the barrier, buying Matt the seconds he needed to angle out of harm's way. Though he didn't have the time or the focus to control his landing, instead crashing into the icy snow and digging a wide trench with his body.

A bombardment of yellow bursts won the Chaotic's attention, as Keith hurried to check on the dazed Green Enforcer.

"You okay?" Keith panted, running to where Matthew had finally skidded to a halt. A quick glance around showed that Tamara, Rachel, and Craig had the remaining creatures actively engaged, giving Keith a moment to examine his wounded friend.

"I'm… fine," Matt wheezed, though as he picked himself off the snow, his slow, ginger movements proved otherwise.

"Like hell you are!" Keith snapped, pointing at Matt's bloodied leg. "Matt, your costume's as red as mine!"

Matt's assessing gaze took in the darkened stains covering much of the Red Enforcer's torso. "Your covered in blood yourself, Keith."

"That's not mine; that's Celea's."

That comment stimulated Matt's memory. He tensed, and his aura began to glow. "Where is that witch, anyway?" he demanded. "Is she awake? Can she talk yet?"

Keith fought a wince. "We'll… talk about that later." He took a breath to calm his anxiety, and reached to offer his friend a hand. "Matt, slow down. Take a breather. Look around you; the others have this under control."

Green accepted the assistance, painfully rising to his feet. Breathing heavily, he forced his knees to lock, keeping him upright as sharp green eyes surveyed the battle.

As Keith had said, the fight was nearly over. Rachel quickly dispatched a Chaotic, joining Tamara to pulverize the one that had nearly bereft the team of a Green Enforcer. Craig then finished off his own opponent with a loud, concussive wave of power.

Then, an oddly peaceful silence fell as everyone searched for any lingering targets, all vaguely awed that the long, difficult battle was over.

The silence was, not surprisingly, shattered by Craig. "Oh yeah! We smoked 'em!" he cheered, darting to the ground to join his roommates. He then got a good look at Matthew, and gasped audibly.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Matt insisted irritably.

"Oh, Matt," Tamara sighed, kneeling by his wound. "Come on; I'll patch it for you on the ship. Spectra showed me the regenerator-"

"No!" he barked. He winced at the startled stares his teammates hammered him with. "Listen, guys, I'm okay. This isn't life-threatening! Now, our priority is Jocelyn!"

"He's right," Rachel commented from the air. "If he can tolerate the pain for now, let's try and get our plan of action worked out." She hovered with her arms crossed, her eyes following a bright white glow that rapidly approached from the horizon.

Seconds later, Spectra landed at the mouth of the cave, setting the team's inter-dimensional visitor on her feet.

Spectra quickly appraised her team, pride stretching her smile. Despite scratches and scrapes, they all stood upright, ready for the next phase of battle. They were all focused, determined to protect their world, and their comrade, from danger.

"You've all done well," she said softly. "Never before have I seen creatures such as these. They reek of death and destruction, yet you did not let them overwhelm you."

The five heroes stood a little taller at her praise.

"So what's the next step?" Craig asked. "Did you guys figure out how to switch Jocelyn and Kimberly again?"

"Yes; although it will not be an easy feat," Spectra admitted, turning into the cave. "Let us join the High Father inside. He will be able to explain better than I."

Rachel stared at Spectra incredulously. "The High Father? He's here, on Earth?"

The group entered the shallow cave, and the Force gawked at the aged man standing beside the flashing portal.

Spectra turned to her team, smiling with pride. "Let me introduce you all to Luminus, the High Father of the Resistance. He is the one that assembled the organized opposition to the Denebian crown."

The Force turned their startled gazes to the legend himself. Then, after a long silence, Rachel stepped forward. "It's an honor to meet you, Sir."

He smiled at the young warrior. "No need for formality, Child. I am just as honored to meet you all."

The group of youths beamed at the compliment.

Luminus then turned to the Power Ranger among them. "Kimberly, I have discovered that the portal that brought you here was altered since your arrival."

Matt shrugged. "That's a safe bet: the portal didn't spit out bloodthirsty monsters yesterday

."

Kim's confused gaze slid from the white-haired sage to the redheaded teen. "Wait a minute. You're saying that the Chaotics are coming out of my portal?"

"Yes." Luminus confirmed.

Keith gasped with inspiration. "So that's

what Celea was doing down here earlier! She was screwing with the portal!"

"You are correct, Keith. However, she did not simply re-create the portal to Chaos. Instead, she altered the portal she had already created. As a result, she wove the portal to Kimberly's reality with a portal to Chaos, creating a three-pronged inter-dimensional window."

Luminus' gaze was uncharacteristically grim. "Essentially, Celea has unwittingly created a far more complicated problem. The portal she mistakenly created linked Kimberly's world to ours. And now, thanks to her most recent spell, the existence of the Bridge now connects both

our world and Kimberly's to Chaos. The doorway to Chaos is open on both sides; which explains the shifting Matthew has witnessed in this portal."

That announcement made Kimberly gasp. "You mean…those things

are in my world too??"

Luminus nodded sharply. "Unfortunately, the existence of the Bridge leaves your home open to Chaos as well."

The stricken expression on the Pink Ranger's face was disturbing. "Then we have to do

something! I have to get home, pronto! Without me there's no Megazord, no Tiger Megazord, no combined weapons…"

Keith frowned at the incomprehensible rambling. "Slow down, Kim," he urged, "take a deep breath. Spectra called us here because she and Luminus have figured out how to fix all this." His gaze slid to the two aliens among them. "So, how to do we untangle this mess?"

"The key is to undo the Bridge; the first link, connecting our two Realms," Luminus revealed. "That is the most difficult step, because we must restore balance between the two universes. Kimberly, you are personally tethered to this portal, as is Jocelyn in the other Realm. The only way for you two to return to your Realms of origin is to re-activate the Bridge. Then, the link between the two Realms will finally break completely."

He paused, letting the Pink Ranger process all the information given. She stared wide-eyed into the portal, marveling at the shimmering lens distorting the red-tinged view.

"What is this?" she inquired, waving at the lens.

"It is a sealing spell. It holds back the Chaotics, and removes all possibility of you somehow being swept into that dark realm. The path between this world and your own is open. However, just as before, it can only be activated by you and your counterpart. And only once the Bridge is severed permanently can we safely close the portal to Chaos, stopping the invasion of evil on both Earths."

"So really, we're almost there!" Tamara contributed. "If I'm following all this, Kim's already got one foot in the door. Matt saw Jocelyn through the portal earlier. She's probably waiting for us! All we have to do is sit tight for the Bridge to align our two Earths again, and problem solved."

"Not exactly," Spectra pointed out, gesturing to the window Luminus kept closed. "Even if Jocelyn understands that she needs to jump through the portal, there's no safeguard on the other end. Luminus has sealed Chaos on our

end." She turned to Luminus. "If Jocelyn tried to come home, could she be diverted to Chaos?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot answer that. I've never seen this amalgam of portals before. I cannot safely predict how it will behave. Perhaps if Jocelyn attempts to pass through at the wrong time, she might be diverted to Chaos. Though, life as we understand it cannot exist in that realm. She would die before she even enters the other end."

The Force froze with tension at the thought of the horrible death potentially facing their friend.

"But we can address this danger," Luminus assured the team. "Spectra, you and your entire Force we will travel to the Realm of the Power Rangers."

Craig frowned. "How does that help anything?"

"Spectra shall erect a shield in the other portal, sealing off Chaos and allowing safe transit for both Kimberly and Jocelyn. And the rest of you will assist the Power Rangers in destroying the remaining Chaotics expediently, making the area save for inter-dimensional transfer."

Spectra felt her stomach knot. "I can't cast that spell! I know nothing

about alternate realms! I-"

"Follow the steps I demonstrated, Spectra. You aren't making a portal appear. You are merely casting a force field into one vein of a portal. This is not beyond your skill, or I would not ask you to do it."

Spectra almost protested again, but bit her lip.

Tamara stared at the portal. "What will happen to Jocelyn when she passes back through the portal? When Kim fell through, she was out cold! Jocelyn could freeze to death in the time it takes us to get back!"

Luminus turned to the Green Enforcer, who stood stock-still amongst his team, his eyes never wandering from the red-tinged portal. "Matthew, perhaps you can stay behind."

He blinked, turning to the wise sage that addressed him. "Huh?"

"That way you can attend Jocelyn as soon as she emerges," he explained. "And should anything unexpected pass through the portal in the meantime, you can assist me in handling it."

"And once Jocelyn is safe, make sure to take care of that leg," Rachel said sternly. "You're the pre-med student here; you know better than we do that your risking infection, major blood loss, and scarring."

Matthew winced. "Okay, okay…" he sighed.

"So what happens then?" Keith inquired. "How do we ultimately break Celea's spell?"

"Once the two displaced individuals return through the portal, all tethers holding the Bridge open will disappear," Luminus explained. "Then I shall wipe clean Celea's spell, closing the portal in both Realms, and then care for your teammate."

The Force continued to hesitate, each one considering the details given and trying to understand the situation the best they could. One thing was certain: they were dealing with mystical forces far

beyond their comprehension. And the stakes were higher than they'd ever been.

"The seal is really just a temporary fix," Keith pointed out. "If this Bridge isn't undone, then eventually the Chaotics will break through. The only way to permanently erase these portals and save our planet is for Jocelyn and Kim to pass through the Bridge."

Rachel nodded, folding her arms. "If that means we have to go into the other Realm and get Jocelyn to pass through, then so be it."

Tamara had come to a similar conclusion. "But how will we get there without creating even more 'tethers' keeping our dimensions connected?"

Luminus smirked. "The princess is not very skilled at creating inter-dimensional links. I, on the other hand, know how to create clean doorways into other realities. I already opened one on the ship."

"Please," Kimberly murmured. She turned toward the Spectrum Force, her eyes pleading. "We have

to act now. Every minute we stand here and talk is a minute my friends are fighting without me!"

"Then let's move out!" Keith declared, pumping his fist. "Looks like we're heading on an inter-dimensional field trip."

Craig grinned. "And to think, before I joined the Force I'd never left the continental U.S.!"

Chapter Fifty-Three

The tittering of the minors had drifted through the immaterial realm of Chaos, spreading like lava pouring down an erupting volcano. A hole had opened. Not a large tear, nor a purposeful one. No great power was summoning specific hordes of Chaos. Someone had simply unlocked the door and left it open.

Strangely enough, the door had two destinations. Both were rife with light and life, practically begging to be smothered. However, only one had a Shadow lurking beneath the light, calling into Chaos like an enchanting song.

The presence of the Shadow Lord, drawing his demons like a flame lures a moth.

Only it wasn't the Shadow Lord that opened the doorway. When he had done so in the past, his call was loud, irresistible. And even the upstart mage Zedd had managed to force a Chaotic into the material realm.

This wasn't a summoning. This was an open invitation.

An invitation into the Realm of the Power Rangers. An opportunity to finish the mission, and destroy Zordon and his charges once and for all.

The large creature moved toward the portal, and scores of lesser creatures made way for the powerful beast. This time it would not fail. This time it would be prepared for the Rangers, and any other creative tricks they'd devise.

This time, it would lead an army. And those deadly forces would help it obliterate all life on Earth, leaving nothing but blood and rubble… much like it had done on the planet Phaedos in the ancient past.

Part Six

Chapter Fifty-Four

Power Rangers Dimension

The Red Enforcer hung lazily in the air miles above the frigid tundra of the North Pole, one hand on his forehead, the other cradling his stomach.

"Keith?" Tamara murmured, "Are you okay?"

"It's not as bad as those Hyperspace Portals," he assured her. "I'm okay."

Craig smirked cruelly. "Maybe you should pop a Dramamine before the next mission, huh?"

The blonde glared at his friend. "Yeah, right. Like I knew

we were going on an inter-dimensional field trip when I left home this morning!"

Spectra passed through the portal last, her energy blazing white. She descended to where her team had congregated, her gaze thoughtful. "Keith?"

"Just a little motion sickness, nothing to worry about." He took a slow breath to help settle his stomach. "I'll be fine once I get my feet on the ground."

"That may take a while," Spectra noted. "We are several miles from the Power Rangers' location, and I am certain we will be drawn into immediate combat."

"Then I'll deal with it," Keith determined, straightening his posture. "We have to find Jocelyn, pronto."

Their mentor closed her eyes, and all present felt her telepathic call. *Jocelyn!*

The team held its collective breath, anxiously awaiting a response. They didn't need to wait long. *Spectra! You're here!!*

Chapter Fifty-Five

Elation seized the Orange Enforcer the moment she heard her mentor's voice in her mind. Once she'd become aware of Spectra's presence, she was able to stretch her senses, feeling the comforting glow of Blue, Yellow, Purple, and Red.

She hadn't realized how much she'd missed the mental connection with her teammates until she fought a battle without it. Even though the Power Rangers were more than capable warriors, and were quick to assist whenever she needed backup, it was difficult to adapt to such a different style of combat. She couldn't feel her allies in the back of her mind.

She couldn't rely on Keith to invent a new technique in the nick of time. Or Rachel to adapt the team's strategy whenever the enemy surprised them. Or Craig to confront the toughest-looking creature, ready to test its strength and ability. Or Tamara to watch over the battleground, keeping the team aware of dangers such as rockslides, bystanders, weather fluctuations, or sneaky opponents. Or Matthew to guard her back whenever she got in over her head.

Matthew…

Where is Matt, anyway? I can feel everyone else's presence. I saw him in the portal earlier; but then the portal changed.

Her eyes widened with alarm. Could something have happened to him?

Unfortunately, her distraction left her wide open to an assault. Her shield fizzled under the Chaotic's attack, letting a fraction of the battering ram of power plow into her stomach.

She fell into the slushy mess, the world spinning around her. These things just keep getting stronger

…

Jocelyn bent her knees and leapt into the sky, firing a stream of energy meant to slow the creature down. She knew she couldn't muster the strength to destroy it. Now, the goal was to last long enough to regroup.

Once she'd ascended high enough into the air to feel a measure of safety, she released a telepathic call. *Guys, follow my signal. When you get here, grab the Power Rangers. We're overpowered and outnumbered here; the first thing we have to do is get control of the situation.*

*A wise plan, Jocelyn,* Spectra confirmed.

*Let your light shine, Kiddo,* Keith added. *We'll be right there.*

Jocelyn sucked in a deep breath, holding her arms and legs akimbo. The sudden gleam of her power immediately caught the attention of the nearest Ranger.

"What the heck are you doing?"

Jocelyn opened her eyes and smiled at the Purple Ranger. "Calling in some reinforcements."

"What do you…?" Alexis' words were lost as four streaks of vivid light blazed past her. "Uh… whoa."

Chapter Fifty-Six

At some point after the millipede-like creatures began crawling out of the cave, Tommy Oliver's world shrank into a single objective: keep everyone alive. No time for tactical plans. No room for mistakes.

The mutant crab Chaotics had been tough, for each one had been about as strong as one of Lord Zedd's monsters. Fortunately, though, they weren't as durable. A few well-placed strikes with the Power Weapons would send the pseudo-crustaceans back to wherever they came from; so long as the Rangers were quick enough to evade their deadly pinchers, they could manage well enough.

But when Jocelyn, Zack, and Billy had emerged from the cave, a new breed of creature followed them. The long bugs were much

harder to destroy; so far, only a point-blank, continuous burst from the Cosmic Cannon or the biggest Eagleheart Pulse Alexis could muster proved capable of wiping them out. Everything else only stalled them. The Rangers were forced to fight in two groups, everyone attempting to distract the monsters long enough for Zack or Alexis to deliver the finishing blows.

However, once the inter-dimensional portal began spitting the creatures out at a faster rate than the Rangers could destroy them, that strategy was quickly thrown out the window. The situation had deteriorated into a free-for-all.

Tommy leapt, narrowly missing the sharp horns of a particularly persistent Chaotic. He twisted in the air, unsheathing his saber and firing tight beams of laser from Saba's jeweled eyes. The Chaotic shrieked at the attack, but quickly shook off the pain.

Tommy rolled on the ground, jumped to his feet, and began running, putting as much space between himself and his opponent as possible. "Saba," he breathed, "give me a status update."

"Rodger," the saber noted. Tapping his football skills, the White Ranger threw the enchanted weapon into the air, and just managed to dodge a streak of black energy and roll out of an additional monster's deadly path. He began running again, angling toward Zack, who had just annihilated another bug.

Two on my back now!

He groaned inwardly. How much longer can we keep this up?

Saba streaked through the air, landing deftly in Tommy's waiting palm. "Eight more bugs to go," he reported.

"How are the others holding up?"

"Billy is still staggering thanks to injuries sustained in the cave, but Jason and Trini are keeping an eye on him. Together they seem to be staying one step ahead of the monsters. Zack is holding his own at a distance from the rest of the team. Alexis is circling above us, firing when ready. Jocelyn has also just taken to the air."

Tommy sighed. "Great. At this rate, the Chaotics will just wear us down and then pick us off! We need to fall back, before-"

The rest of his sentence was lost in a startled gasp as a powerful force suddenly pushed against his back. However, while the shove was too strong to resist, it didn't burn like whenever one of the Chaotics managed to clip him.

Blinking in surprise, Tommy slowly registered that a pair of purple gloves gripped him around the chest, and he was suddenly airborne.

"Alexis?" he wondered. No, it can't be… her gloves are white!

"Sorry for the surprise, Tommy," an unfamiliar voice answered. "I didn't have time to announce myself."

Tommy tried to look up, but all he could see was vivid purple energy. "How do you know who I am?" he demanded.

"Kimberly," she replied, a touch of humor in her voice. "She talked so much about you all, I feel like I know you already."

It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from his heart. "You've seen Kim? Is she okay? Where is she?"

"Kim's fine," she answered, "but I think explanations should wait until we've regrouped."

"Regrouped?" Tommy repeated, looking back down. He realized with growing alarm that they were far

from the ground, and getting farther with each passing moment. He then squinted into the sky, and gaped openly at a translucent, pearly white disk twice the size of his bedroom, floating in the air with nothing holding it up. He blinked, expecting the strange phenomenon to simply vanish like a trick of the light, yet he was even more shocked to see several people landing on it, proving it had substance.

"The gang's all here," Jason announced from the center of the prismatic surface. Tommy stepped cautiously on the platform, and then turned to get a better look at the woman who had carried him: a tall brunette with a molded uniform of mingling shades of purple. Her costume design perfectly matched Jocelyn's.

"The Purple Enforcer," he realized. She nodded, extending her hand.

"The name's Rachel. Circumstances aside, it's good to meet you."

Tommy nodded his agreement, and took her hand. "Do you guys always go by your first names when in uniform?"

"No; we typically go by color designations. But, considering our two teams have four colors in common, I think that might prove a bit confusing."

The White Ranger smirked. "You have a point there."

The field commanders approached the rest of the group, Tommy's scrutiny passing over the two teams. He exhaled with relief when he noted that his teammates appeared mostly unharmed.

Once satisfied that the Rangers were still able to fight, curiosity drew his gaze to the other team. Congregated around Jocelyn in eager celebration was a very tall, powerfully-built man in blue, a shorter blonde man wearing red, a woman in yellow with dark hair almost as long as Trini's, and a slim, ethereal woman wearing solid white.

Tommy squinted at the apparition. Was it his imagination, or were her features clouded by a pearly white haze?

She noticed his attention, and nodded in greeting. "I am Spectra, and this is the Spectrum Force: Rachel, Craig, Tamara, Keith, and you already know Jocelyn."

Tommy waved his hand toward his team. "I'm Tommy, and this is Jason, Alexis, Billy, Trini, and Zack."

This was really the time to address battle tactics, now that the forces of good had nearly doubled. But instead, the sight of Jocelyn surrounded by her teammates, eagerly hugging each of them in turn, brought to mind the one question that had been plaguing him since the nightmare began. "Where's Kimberly?"

His concern must've been evident in his voice, for Spectra gave him a comforting smile. "Peace, White Ranger, Kimberly is well. She is in our home dimension, waiting for us to prepare the portal for her arrival."

"Thank goodness," Trini sighed in relief.

"Why didn't you bring her with you?" Zack wondered.

"It's kind of a long story, so here's the Cliff's Notes version," Keith responded, taking a deep breath. He then launched into a bizarre summary of an alien princess, alternate dimensions, the strange phenomenon called a Bridge, which linked the universe of the Power Rangers with that of the Spectrum Force, and finally the added complication of a portal to Chaos, that threatened both universes. "And the only way to stop

all this craziness is for Kimberly and Jocelyn to pass back through the original portal," he concluded. "So we're here to help you guys beat down the Chaotics long enough for the girls to switch places."

The Power Rangers fell silent, each one teasing out the meaning of the rapid-fire summary they'd just received. Not surprisingly, it was Billy who recognized an alarming implication.

"Let's assume we're able to establish transit between our universes. What's to stop either Jocelyn or Kimberly from detouring into Chaos?"

The woman in white stepped forward. "That is why I am present. I will cast a spell to seal Chaos, protecting both transferees from diversion. My mentor is in our dimension presently, holding the same spell on that end. Neither woman should be in any danger through transit."

"Are you sure?" Tommy wondered. "Have you seen this phenomenon before?"

"No, to both questions," Spectra admitted. "Yet we are sure that the only way to untangle our dimensions is to dissolve the Bridge, and that can only be done by restoring the proper balance. Also, it is the only way Kimberly and Jocelyn can return to their native dimensions. Kimberly was unable to pass through the portal that brought us here."

"We don't have a choice, then," Jason realized grimly. "We can't leave that portal open."

"And I have

to go home!" Jocelyn folded her arms, her tone adamant. "Let's get the show on the road!"

She then turned to Spectra. "What happened to Matt? He's not hurt, is he?"

"We thought it was best for someone to stay behind to protect Kimberly as she waits for my signal, and to get you away from the battleground once you emerge."

The petite girl nodded sharply and stepped back, her energy blazing with new determination. "Spectra and I will head for the portal, then."

"Zack, you go with them," Tommy decided. "You've got the best chance of destroying any other Chaotics that emerge from the portal with one shot."

"Got it, Leader Man," the Black Ranger answered with a semi-serious salute.

"The rest of us will destroy the rest of the Chaotics." Tommy looked to the ground, peering through the luminescent, glass-like floor. "I think we've got… eighteen down there now."

"And we shall prevent more from coming," Spectra stated. She then turned to the Orange Enforcer. "Jocelyn, have your powers behaved normally in this dimension?"

She nodded. "For the most part. These Chaos monsters have a kind of… evil aura that's distracting, especially if you try to restrain them. Any kind of prolonged contact, either physical or through energy binds, causes one killer of a headache."

Keith nodded. "Sounds like the ones we tango'ed with back home."

"And I can't seem to summon my Dia-Staff," Jocelyn added.

Craig grimaced. "Really?"

"That makes sense," Spectra noted. "The Dia-Staffs are directly powered by the Diadem, which is now in another realm of existence than we are." Her eyes flashed. "Jocelyn, are you able to destroy one of these monsters alone?"

"Not the millipedes. I can slow them down, but I can't muster an attack that can destroy them."

"Then I suggest a cooperative effort," Spectra glanced to Tommy. "All the Spectrum Force has the same abilities, and you have seen enough of Jocelyn's abilities to know what they are. How do you think we should approach this battle?"

Tommy blinked, surprised that she'd asked his input. "The Power Rangers have combination attacks; but we need Kimberly for all of them, so we're at a disadvantage right now. Are you guys able to combine your powers at all?"

"We all can combine our energy assaults with each other," Keith confirmed. "The more of us add power, the more powerful the attack. But we don't need a full team."

"But our powers do merge more efficiently when the colors are closer to each other in the spectrum," Rachel pointed out.

"Then split up the Force into two teams of two," Billy contributed. "That should be sufficient power to destroy a single Chaotic."

"That leaves the five of us," Trini pointed out.

"Billy, you go with the Red and Yellow Spectrum Enforcers," Tommy decided. "And Trini, you go with Blue and Purple. That leaves me, Jase, and Alexis to form a third group. I wouldn't want to split us into any group smaller than three; not with these monsters." He turned to his former leader. "Sounds like a plan?"

"It does to me." Jason then glanced at the alien among them. "Spectra?"

"I approve of this strategy," she confirmed. "Rachel and Keith, take your teams to opposite ends of the battleground and work your way toward the cave," Spectra advised. "Keep your minds open to each other, but stay focused on your own battles. Do your utmost to avoid being surrounded by these creatures. I will alert you the moment the transfer is complete."

The Red and Purple Enforcers nodded, each one walking to opposite sides of the floating platform. They were immediately joined by their designated teams.

"White, Red, and Purple Rangers, stand across from me," Spectra directed. "Black Ranger, stay near Jocelyn and me."

The party of twelve separated into four groups, each group congregating at one side of the circular platform. Then, Spectra snapped her fingers, creating a neat crack that split the platform into quarters.

The three other pieces flew to the ground below, approaching the battleground from the periphery. The Black Ranger watched, fascinated, as the brightly-colored forms of his teammates vanished with distance.

"Now what do we do?" he wondered.

"We wait for the others to distract and disperse the Chaotics," Spectra explained. "When the path is mostly clear, we will move straight for the cave, and the portal within it."

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Trini braced herself as the translucent disc streaked to the ground. It almost felt like surfing, the strong winds buffeting her like waves while she fought to maintain her balance. Teleportation, while it was doubtless the most convenient form of travel, completely shielded her from the actual sensation of movement. There was a certain thrill to the high-speed flight she wished she could enjoy more… if she didn't have a dozen giant insects snapping their claws in her general direction, that is.

Wincing, she noticed that the pearly disc had taken a blue hue, and was angling dangerously

close to the Chaotics as it streaked above them. "What are you doing?"

"Getting their attention." Trini was certain she could hear a smile in the Blue Enforcer's voice. "That is what we're doing up here, right? Clearing the path for Jocelyn?"

"Without getting ourselves killed, of course," Purple commented, her own aura flashing to life around her body. "I'm getting off here; you two continue until you're clear of the Chaotics. These things can't fly, can they?"

Trini realized belatedly that the last question was directed at her. "Not that I've seen."

"Then I'll take my chances in the sky."

And with that, she leapt off the platform, fists burning as she gained altitude.

Trini looked alarmed as the Purple Enforcer shrank in her view. "What if something happens to her? She's all alone!"

"No she's not," Blue assured her. "She wants to distract them from us so I can figure out what your powers are. We never saw Kim in action, so we don't really know what a Power Ranger can do."

Trini blinked in surprise as the blue disc finally landed on the tundra, evaporating on contact. Her white boots sank into the deep snow, but she kept her attention fixed on the tall man before her. "When did you two decide that?"

"I guess that was a bit rude, huh?" he allowed, rubbing his head. "See, we can communicate mind-to-mind."

"You can read minds?"

"Not exactly. I can't read your mind, for example, so don't worry about me poking around where I'm not wanted. See, if I want to communicate with Rachel, I still need to call out to her. But I do it in my head. She can't hear what I'm thinking unless I'm directing my thoughts to her, and vice versa. And we can't do it with anyone else; just the rest of the Force. Spectra's powers are different, though."

Trini nodded slowly, considering the possibilities of such a unique communication system. But Craig quickly interrupted her train of thought.

"So, what powers do you have?"

The Yellow Ranger looked up at the impressive figure of the Blue Enforcer, mentally tacking off his known abilities, and for a brief moment felt a pinch of deficiency. He was faster, he could fly, fire energy blasts…

But she had her own skills.

"The Power enhances baseline strength, agility, speed, endurance, and durability. And my weapons include daggers and a hand Blaster; neither of which can destroy one of these Chaotics on their own." She tapped her chin, watching beams of purple light flash not too far away. "We should focus our efforts on one Chaotic at a time. Can you tell your friend to aim for the underbelly? That seemed to be a weak spot when we fought them earlier."

Craig nodded, lifting off the ground, but then frowned suddenly. "She says it's hard to hit the underbelly from above."

Trini smirked. "Then maybe we should bowl them over first."

She raced toward one of the large rocks that were scattered across the area, adjusting the settings on her Blade Blaster along the way. Carefully, she fired the weapon, carving a shape reasonably close to a sphere out of the rock's side. Craig watched with a puzzled frown as the newly-carved ball rolled away from the alcove, steam climbing from it's heated surface.

"So," the Yellow Ranger commented, "think you can help me push this thing?"

Chapter Fifty-Eight

There was no other word to describe it: the battlefield was sheer pandemonium.

Zack watched the battle unfold from the relative safety of Spectra's floating platform, the sights and sounds making him feel dizzy. Even from a distance, the vivid colors of attacks were clearly visible, and he couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer variety. Fistfuls of blue, sleek purple beams, overwhelming flows of red, tiny but numerous yellow flashes, tight corkscrews of purple mingled with blue, large spheres of red with rings of yellow... Zack found himself counting the Spectrum Force's energy assaults, comparing them to the destructive power of the most comparable Ranger attacks.

That red sphere with yellow rings looks almost like Lex's Eagleheart Pulse, and judging by the way it reduced that Chaotic to ash, it seems more powerful than what Alexis can pull off. Don't think I'll tell her that, though. And that narrow beam the Purple Enforcer likes looks a whole lot like Saba's laser ray.

He then smirked, watching another red-tinged sphere of… something… plow into the Chaotics on the southern edge of the battlefield, throwing three of the bug-like creatures off their countless feet by the sheer force of the collision.

Then Billy and the Yellow and Red Enforcers descended on the disoriented creatures, hammering them with energy blasts and a Blade Blaster.

Trini and the Blue Enforcer had come up with the idea of using the bugs for bowling practice, but the technique quickly caught on.

"Zack, Jocelyn," Spectra said, breaking the relative silence of the high altitude, "It's time."

The two teens nodded, and without further warning, the platform began a swift and sudden descent, streaking toward the ground directly for the cave. The immediate area was mostly clear, thanks to the havoc the remaining heroes were creating less than a hundred yards away, so the trio was able to slip into the small cave without incident.

"They're not guarding the cave at all," Zack noticed with a vague shrug. "They're not as organized as we thought they were."

"Or, perhaps whatever is coming through the portal doesn't need a guard," Spectra suggested.

Both teens grimaced at the thought.

Spectra suddenly paused, pressing her body against the jagged cave wall and holding out her hand out. The two teens behind her froze in mid-step.

"Why'd we stop?" Jocelyn murmured.

"There are two Chaotics now emerging from the portal," she revealed.

Zack scratched the back of his helmet. "How'd you know that?"

"I can sense their destructive aura. Now, I must conserve my power for the spell, so I cannot help you fight them. Black Ranger, how quickly can you destroy two Chaotics?"

He hefted the Power Ax from his shoulder, pulling back the blade and storing power for discharge. "It'll take about forty seconds for the Cosmic Cannon to re-charge to full power. Assuming I hit my target on the first try, about a minute."

"Jocelyn, do your best to hold the other creature," Spectra instructed. "Once the path is clear, I shall begin." And with that, she moved closer to the wall, murmuring under her breath. Zack's eyebrow rose when the shadows of the cave seemed to reach out, smothering the stark whiteness of her hair and costume. If it weren't for the aid of his helmet lens, he wouldn't be able to see her at all.

"That's a neat trick," he awed.

He then nodded to Jocelyn, and together the pair continued into the cavern. They walked in silence, the buzzing of Zack's charging weapon accompanying the eerie burr of the portal as they awaited the telltale flash of red light. When it finally came, Zack stepped forward, bending his knees to brace himself for the backlash.

"I call dibs," he murmured, narrowing his eyes. Just wait until you see the whites of its eyes… figuratively speaking, of course.

As soon as the first creature fully emerged from the portal, Zack let loose the devastating stream of power before it had a chance to orient itself and become aware of the danger. It screeched as it melted against the assault, countless arms flailing but helpless to save itself.

However, the second creature was just a step behind. It dove for the Black Ranger immediately, and Zack could do nothing but yelp in surprise at the speed with which the Chaotic struck.

But then a flash of orange brightened the dim cave, and the creature veered off-target, instead dashing directly down the tunnel toward daylight.

Jocelyn grimaced, bracing herself against the protruding rock. "I'm definitely going to need some industrial-strength Excedrin when this is all over…"

"Just a little longer," Zack assured her, charging his cannon again, "Let's make sure that thing stays out of Spectra's way."

Jocelyn nodded, and together the teens chased after the demonic creature, holding their collective breath as it passed Spectra's hidden form.

If it in any way sensed her presence, it gave no indication.

Spectra watched the creature continue its race, the two young heroes hot on its tail. *Make sure not to leave, Jocelyn,* she warned. *If the creature escapes the cave, let the others handle it.*

*You got it!* Orange acknowledged.

Wasting no more time, Spectra approached the magical portal, watching with no small amount of awe as the projected image warped before her eyes.

She found herself surprised when the scene was overwhelmed by a soft green light. Matthew stood in the background, his arms raised as he generated enough power to illuminate the cave. Close to Matthew, near enough to be warmed by his protective aura, was Kimberly herself, her arms tightly folded and teeth absently gnawing her lower lip.

And in the foreground stood Luminus, perhaps two arms' lengths from the portal, his hands raised as he maintained a spell on his side of the Bridge.

It took the inter-dimensional party a few moments to realize the scene had shifted. Spectra watched in fascination as Kimberly's somber expression brightened, allowing her to wave excitedly and chatter something. Sounds couldn't pass through the portal, and Spectra felt a flicker of amusement that this knowledge didn't stop the excitable Ranger from trying to communicate anyway.

Then, Spectra took a step closer, taking a breath to steel herself as she reviewed the spell Luminus demonstrated in her mind. But as she lifted her hands to begin casting the spell, her apprehension grew tenfold.

Creating a force field is one thing; sealing an entire dimension is wholly different. I've never done this, or anything remotely like this. Spell-casting is not my strength, and Luminus knows it.

Her concern must have showed on her face, for Luminus fixed her with a steady gaze. Though she couldn't hear his voice or his thoughts across the Multiverse, that expression spoke volumes.

"Don't think of it as spell-casting," she murmured, watching her breath mist in the frigid air. "Follow directions. And have confidence that Luminus knows what he's doing."

Her breaths fell into the steady rhythm that accompanied meditation as the young warrior readied herself. Fingers swayed slowly at first, harnessing all the energy they could and causing the surrounding air to glow faintly white. Then, as the portal began to shift, her hands danced more rapidly, spinning a web of power that darted forward, into the maw of Chaos.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

They didn't even need words anymore. They were a team: they worked like a well-oiled machine.

The system they devised was simple. A little on the reckless side, but then again, so were these particular Rangers.

It started with Jason. Approach a Chaotic. Get too close. Get it angry. A tight blast from the Blade Blaster to its underbelly worked wonders on the millipedes; the bug-beast immediately forgot whatever it was doing before, and whirled on him in a snarling fury. And Jason drew it away, running as quickly as he could, listening to the thunderous beat of a thousand legs.

Before the creature could overtake him, a series of short laser bursts from Saba forced the monster to a standstill. In Tommy's capable hands, the enchanted saber fired bolt after bolt of energy, giving Jason time to get comfortably distant, as well as getting the creature adequately disoriented.

And during all this activity, Alexis hovered in the air, a sphere of purple-gold light burning between her palms.

It worked four times, carving down the otherworldly abominations by a sizeable chunk. And as Jason dove for cover, listening to the buzz of Tommy's lasers cough up ice and snow to blind the monster, he was certain it would work again.

But then one element changed: Alexis began to stagger.

It was Jason who noticed the first signs. The Purple Ranger had noticeably lowered, her body trembling as the Pulse flared wildly in her hands, a stark contrast from the steady glow that was typical of her signature attack.

He immediately knew what it meant. "Plan B, Tommy!"

The White Ranger didn't let up his energy assault. "What's Plan B?"

"Stall, as I work out Plan C!" Jason ran to the ground below the Purple Ranger, his brow furrowed. "Lex! Drop the Pulse!"

But the strong winds and steady hum of nearby energy made it impossible for her to hear him.

And also, she was far too focused on the inexplicably stubborn energy sphere that flashed weakly in her hands.

Why isn't it getting bigger?

Her heart raced, the quickened beat thumping between her ears as she pushed as much power as she could through her hands. The purple energy diverted into the attack was even visible, trailing along her white gloves like tiny bolts of lightning. And yet the Eagleheart Pulse flickered, unwilling to sustain itself.

Come on, dammit… I know I've got it in me!

Then, a sudden slushy force against her boot startled her just enough to release her focus. The waning Pulse dissolved completely.

"Lex!"

Gasping, she glared at the Red Ranger below. "This is no time for a snowball fight, Jase!"

"You're spent, Lex. You can't fly and generate a Pulse at the same time."

She winced. "I'm a little tired, but-"

"You've never put this much drain on your powers before. Stay airborne and recover your strength." He then tossed her his Blade Blaster. "Cover us from up there."

She grimaced, noting the warmth of the weapon's barrel. "But-"

The Power Sword materialized in the Red Ranger's hand. "I prefer my fights up close and personal anyway."

And with a quick wave, the Red Ranger hurried to aid his best friend.

Alexis sucked in a frustrated breath, climbing higher into the air and following Jason. Tommy had stayed one step ahead of the creature, though puzzling flashes of red energy made her take a closer look.

Her frown only deepened. The Red Spectrum guy. He must've noticed Tommy was in trouble, and picked up the slack for me.

She blinked, angrily fighting the sting in her eyes. I should

have been able to hold out! I know it in my bones! I know I'm pushing myself… I know these Pulses are at maximum strength, but I should have been able to generate more. I should've come through when they needed me.

It was terrifying to hit the limit of one's strength, and realize it just wasn't enough.

Her gaze dropped to the morpher on her waist. The morpher Zordon added to her ensemble. When she first inherited the Power, channeling it directly from the Eagle Coin, it felt different. It felt… limitless.

She shook her head, banishing the errant thought from her mind and bringing her attention back to the fight at hand.

Her eyes widened as a large cone of energy erupted from the Red stranger's palms, spinning on its own axis, and plowing mercilessly through the middle of the tenacious Chaotic.

The creature exploded in an acrid black mist, and left the nearby Rangers stunned, and snow-covered.

"It worked," Keith mused, grinning unselfconsciously. "Good thing you guys beat that thing so hard the past few minutes; so far an attack from any one of us hasn't been that effective. It definitely got weaker."

"Nice work," Tommy noted, shaking the young man's hand. "Thanks for the back-up… Keith, right?"

"Right."

Alexis landed as the team regrouped, ignoring Jason's pointed stare. "It looks like things are under control."

"I'd say so," Keith confirmed. "I disbanded my strike unit when I noticed you guys in trouble. Tammy combined with Rachel and Craig makes one killer assault team, so they're plowing through the rest of these caterpillars. I asked your friend Billy to stand by the cave. He's keeping watch there with the Yellow Ranger; so far nothing new has come out."

"Then the seal must be in place," Jason surmised.

"Only five left," Tommy noted after a quick count. "If your team has the Chaotics covered, I think I'll head into the cave and see how the transfer's coming."

"I'll come with you," Keith announced, falling into step beside him.

Chapter Sixty

When Zack heard footsteps pounding on the stone floor of the cave, he lifted his Cosmic Cannon, just in case. He had no idea if the Chaotics could sense that their portal home had been messed with, or if they'd be concerned that their reinforcements had stopped coming. But his assignment was to make sure the transfer wasn't screwed up by any interfering inter-dimensional boogie-men, and he took that assignment very seriously.

Only when he saw the burning aura of the Red Enforcer, accompanied by the glaring white armor of the White Ranger, did he lower his weapon. "Guys come to see the main event?"

"Thing's have gotten quieter outside, so we figured we might be useful here," Keith answered. He frowned when he noticed the tension on his mentor's face. "Spectra?"

"These… creatures are strong," she hissed through clenched teeth. "Stronger than those the spell was designed for."

Tommy took a step forward. "Will it hold?"

Spectra nodded stiffly. "I believe so. It took great… effort to adjust the seal. And it takes great effort to… to hold it."

Jocelyn rocked impatiently on the balls of her feet, rubbing her arms briskly. "We're only waiting for the portal to shift again. We couldn't move on the last shift because Spectra had to adjust again. Something…" she gulped. "Something big

must've just come on the side of Chaos."

Keith looked at his young friend. "Why'd you de-sync, Jocie? It's cold out here!"

She shrugged. "When we first switched, Kimberly and I were both in our superhero forms. Keeping this whole 'balance' thing in mind, we wondered if maybe our energy levels have to be more or less the same as well. Spectra said Kim can't morph, so the only solution to balance us out is for me to go un-powered as well."

Keith shook his head, stepping closer to her and expanding the red-tinged aura of his power. "Doesn't mean you have to freeze to death, Kiddo."

She grinned up at him. "Always eager to help the damsel in distress?"

He winced, rubbed his neck, and laughed a little too loudly as his thoughts strayed to the other

"damsel" he'd aided just a few short hours ago... the one with the green hair and unpleasant disposition. "Guilty as charged, I guess."

Just then, the portal shifted, the white of transition giving way to the emerald hue of Matthew's power. Jocelyn smiled widely, all thoughts of teasing Keith forgotten.

Chapter Sixty-One

Spectrum Force Dimension

"Something's happening…" Kimberly reported. She watched with bated breath as the image cleared, revealing a face that gave her a bit of a start.

"Jocelyn!" Matthew gasped from behind her. "She de-synced!"

Heh… I'd always wanted a sister,

Kim reflected, a feeble grin on her lips as she stared at the stranger with such a familiar face. Her smile widened when another figure stepped forward from the background, and gave her a thumb's up.

"Tommy," she murmured. As always, his mere presence made her feel twice as strong.

"Everything is prepared," Luminus noted with a nod. "The Bridge is as stable as it will ever be, Kimberly."

The girl nodded, taking a breath and quickly scanning her form. Morpher and communicator, check. New shirt from Tammy, also a check. Langstrum Alps souvenir hoody, double-check; and the warmth is much appreciated!

She turned on her heel, planting a sudden kiss on Luminus' cheek. "Thank you so much, Sir."

The wise elder was too startled to respond as the excited teen hugged a stiff Green Enforcer, then waved at her audience through the portal.

"There's no place like home," she exhaled, and haltingly stepped closer.

Chapter Sixty-Two

Chaos

A frustrated screech tore through the void, echoed by the minors that stretched as far as the eye could see.

It would not be denied. Just as it had reached the doorway, a sudden force

pushed back, blocking passage yet leaving the dimension visible. It was far too tempting a target.

Coiling its full power, the creature thrust back, starting slowly, and then building strength. Satisfaction swam in its being when it felt the force of Light begin to shudder under its far superior strength…

Chapter Sixty-Three

Power Rangers Dimension

A collective sigh of relief escaped the spectators as the portal vanished from view, just as it had the first time. Was it only yesterday that Kimberly dematerialized in a flash of light? Tommy could swear the shock of those moments turned a few hairs gray.

But as he carefully lifted Kimberly… the real Kimberly… into his arms, he knew the ordeal was finally over. Her hair was the right shade of rich brown, kissed with copper highlights. Her communicator was fastened on her wrist. And while he puzzled for a moment at the heather gray "Langstrum Alps" sweatshirt, he soon managed a smile. Didn't take you too long to go native, did it, Kim?

Keith was soon at his side. "Looks like all's well that ends-"

A sudden shriek silenced Keith's hasty words before he could finish them, and gave the trio a split second of warning. Keith whirled around, spreading his power in a translucent shield that separated the five heroes from the remnants of the portal a heartbeat after Spectra was thrown into the far wall by some unseen force.

The portal then became visible again, swirling a furious red and black, expanding into twice its former size in mere seconds.

Zack gulped. "This didn't happen the first time, did it Tom?"

Tommy didn't bother answering. "Keith, get Spectra, and warn the team outside! Retreat and regroup, now

!"

Keith nodded sharply, hurrying to pull Spectra out of the impression she'd made into the wall. He winced at the blood trickling where her head and back had made contact with sharp protrusions. "Spectra?"

"Something's... coming," she warned, her voice thread-bare. "couldn't... hold it. Far too strong."

"If that wasn't a 'let's get the hell out of here,' I don't know what is," he grunted, lifting her carefully. He cast one look over his shoulder, horrified to see that the portal reached the ceiling of the cave, and was growing larger still, ripping through the stone as if it were paper.

*Guys,* he called, rocketing out of the shallow cave, *we've got more company!*

Chapter Sixty-Four

Spectrum Force Dimension

"…nouri siq-ilan ami khani mai,"

Luminus chanted, puffs of steam passing through his lips. His bright blue eyes watched the ground closely, fingers tracing the blood-filled carving Celea had created, putting this entire disaster into motion.

Matthew watched impatiently as the High Father, one of the most respected warriors of Light alive, dug his fingers into the ice-cold earth, brushing fresh soil over the sigil.

"Well?" Matt questioned, "Is it over?"

"The Bridge is broken," Luminus responded, rising to his feet with an old man's care. "The portal is gone from sight, and I sense no lingering link to either Chaos or the Power Rangers' realm. All realms are now disconnected. The only remaining portal is the one on our ship, through which Spectra and her Force traveled to assist the Rangers."

Matthew sighed in relief, tightening his grip on the girl in his arms. "Then let's get Jocelyn to the ship. My powers are keeping her warm enough, but we should make sure she wasn't injured during inter-dimensional transit."

Luminus brushed the dust off his fingers. "And we shall also tend to your own wounds, which are more serious than anything that could have happened to your friend."

Matt's gaze dropped to the ugly cuts down his leg, almost against his will. He'd stopped feeling the pain long ago, but now that the crisis had been averted, and Jocelyn was safe and sound, it seemed his pain receptors were functional again. "That's… not a bad idea, Sir." He conceded with a wry smile.

Luminus followed the young Enforcer towards the mouth of the cave, but sudden intuition made him take a single glance back. "While I was closing the Bridge, I felt… a tremendous shove, from Chaos."

Matthew paused right before he leapt into the air. "What do you mean? Is something coming?"

"Not here," Luminus confirmed, "and now the portal is closed, so nothing from Chaos can enter either material realm. However, I fear for the other realm. I fear… something did get through, just before the portal closed."

Matthew noticed the thoughtful frown on the sage's face. "Something tells me it's not another one of those zombie wolves."

"No. I fear it was one of the major Chaotics. At least

one."

Chapter Sixty-Five

Power Rangers Dimension

Rachel smirked with grim satisfaction as she watched Tamara and Craig converge on the final Chaotic. Their energy signatures swirled together, the edges tingeing green as the helix of power drilled into the creature, leaving nothing but smoke and mud in its wake.

"Well done," she congratulated, hovering to her team. She grinned indulgently as Craig enthusiastically high-fived both girls, and then proceeded into his aerial victory dance.

She noticed the Blue Ranger stare after her friend, and could imagine his curious expression. "Your team is in college, correct?"

Rachel stifled a laugh, anticipating the root of the question. "You'll probably discover that college actually regresses

the maturity of most American men. Trust me on that."

"He just might have the right idea," Trini said, joining the pair, "That was a tough battle; I still can't quite believe it's over."

The straggling heroes regrouped, each keeping a wary eye out for more creatures.

"Phew!" Craig sighed, his face still lit up with a victorious grin, "It's a good thing this slug-fest happened up at the Pole! Can you imagine the property damage if the portal opened somewhere populated?"

"We can imagine," Jason commented grimly. "But you're right; we're lucky this time. I'd rather not think what those Chaotics would've done to Angel Grove if they had the chance."

Tamara winced at the mental image of unnatural fangs, claws, and innocent civilians. "Then we should count our blessings. This could've been much

worse…"

Her body suddenly tensed, visible fear swallowing the rest of her sentence. Jason watched, frowning, as the other two members of the Force reacted in the same way.

He wasn't the only one to notice the sudden spike in anxiety levels. "Guys," Alexis murmured, "what's…?"

She yelped as the ground beneath her rocked, and stared in terror at the source of the tremor.

The cave.

Then, a bubble of purple light swallowed everything, and before the Rangers could comment they were literally dragged away from the cave's mouth. Alexis staggered at the loss of footing, trading perplexed glances with the other Rangers.

A moment later, a beam of red energy streaked from the cave, flying in their direction at an almost impossible speed.

"Keith," the Yellow Enforcer sighed, "you made it."

The Rangers were settled on the ground a good hundred yards further away from the cave. Trini, Jason, Alexis, and Billy turned to their newly arrived teammates, who stepped out of the Red Enforcer's energy field as soon as they made landfall.

"Kim!" Trini gasped, staring at the limp body in Tommy's firm grasp.

"She's okay," the White Ranger assured. "But for now, we've got other problems."

As if on cue, the cave suddenly erupted, throwing rocks, snow, and mud into the air in thunderous explosion. Debris was flung far enough to rain upon the huddled heroes, who stared as a crimson portal crackled from within the rubble, nearly as large as the entire cliff had been.

Then, something emerged.

The Spectrum Force watched in disbelief as an enormous creature stepped through. It was held up on two hind legs, while four other limbs hovered in the air, slashing wickedly and stretching its lean muscles. The dinosaur-like snout stretched into a hideous smile, revealing teeth that gleamed in the unnatural light.

"Oh my God," Tamara whispered, "What is

that?"

She didn't expect an answer… and certainly not a name.

"Erebus."

The Force turned to the Power Rangers, who'd spoken in eerie, horrified unison.

It was at that moment that Spectra recovered enough of her bearings to speak. "No… not just one," she said firmly, pressing a handful of snow to the horrible cut that stained her shoulder red. "I felt three break through my seal."

Alexis nearly swallowed her tongue. "Three??

But that's…"

She wanted to say 'impossible,' as if some universal law wouldn't allow Earth's heroes to fight with such a terrifying disadvantage. It had taken all that they had to defeat Erebus the last time, and he was all alone!

But she couldn't deny it for very long, as another misshapen form broke the plane of the lightning-webbed portal. And then another.

Moments later, the portal swirled closed behind them, the unnerving red light giving way to the relative darkness of an overcast polar night.

To Be Continued In...

The Spectrum Force/Rachel Summers:

Outcasts

Excerpt from The Spectrum Force/Rachel Summers: Outcasts

Circling high above the planet Earth is an asteroid. But, the existence of this asteroid is unknown to the vast majority of the population of the blue and green planet. The asteroid is actually a space ship, that has traveled throughout the galaxy, trying to conquer planets and absorb their life energy, all for the good of the Denebian Empire. Usually, the empire comes against little resistance, because the Denebians are a race of beings highly skilled in black magic. However, the Denebian forces aboard this vessel, who are lead by the empress Phaedra herself, are having a great amount of difficulty conquering this comparatively backwater world. The reason is because this planet has a small but mighty team of super-powered beings called the Spectrum Force. The Spectrum Force is nothing more than a group of young humans, who gain power from the force of white light, but they have successfully come between Phaedra and victory on several occasions. Now, the usually powerful empire is weakening, because of the vast amount of energy wasted in trying to defeat the Spectrum Force. So the empress has set her sights on a new goal--finding an unlimited power source, so her empire can defeat all opposition without depleting their energy supplies.

Not long ago, the empress sent her wizard Morose to the distant planet Edenia, where he was to lay claim to the infinitely powerful Pyramid of Power. However, the Spectrum Force managed to prevent Morose from bringing the Pyramid back to Phaedra. As a token of gratitude, the Pyramid bestowed the six young heroes with the Elemental Armory, allowing them to call upon the force of nature when battling evil. So the Spectrum Force has become even more powerful, and Phaedra is running out of options.

A short while later, Phaedra's youngest child Celea joined her in her battle against the Spectrum Force. Celea utilized an ancient spell she had mastered-- which sent its victims to the Limbo of Lucifer, where they will forever be tormented. But the Spectrum Force managed to escape Celea's magics by pure force of luck, and ended up in a parallel dimension, which also had a team of heroes. This event opened Phaedra's eyes to the possibilities of other universes. Inside the vast plane of the Multiverse, Phaedra found something shocking-- something that the Denebian Empire has been searching for for centuries. Existing in the Multiversal passageway is the energy signature of an interdimensional being, which is life incarnate. This being has been chased by Denebian forces for its powers, and over a century ago, it managed to escape them by means of a magical portal. The being could never be found again, and the Denebians eventually gave up, assuming that this creature had vanished forever. But now, Phaedra knows the truth-- it didn't vanish from existence. It only passed through a Multiversal portal, and took refuge in an alternate reality. Phaedra found traces of the entity's eternal flame suspended inside the Multiverse. This kind of power signature is only emitted when a being of immeasurable power passes through the Multiverse.

Presently, Empress Phaedra and Princess Celea await the arrival of a powerful ally. Acheron, the emperor of the Denebian Empire, is the one most obsessed with finding the eternal flame, and he is presently en route to Phaedra's asteroid from the homeworld of Deneb. A black, spherical space ship passes through the Hyperspace Portal within the atmosphere of Jupiter, and immediately flies towards Earth at a speed that defies the laws of physics. Only moments later, the sphere docks inside the asteroid ship, and an army of Denebian citizens stationed on the asteroid surround the sphere and stand in line, preparing to salute their leader. The gates open, and a tall man with pale gray skin, flowing forest green hair, and piercing blood red eyes marches down the red carpet. His long black cape flies behind him as he hurries past the royal guard, and into the throne room, where his wife and only daughter await. Acheron steps into the throne room, and finds Phaedra sitting upon her throne, adorned in the traditional black gown worn for occasions of celebration. Celea has also done away with her battle uniform, and wears a gown similar to her mother's. Acheron smiles at his family, and watches as they both descend from the platform, and greet him. Celea nods in respect to her father, while Phaedra herself places her hand on Acheron's shoulder, which is the traditional greeting of the Denebian Royal couple.

"I couldn't believe it when I heard your message, my dear," said Acheron, "After all this time, the Eternal Flame has returned! Wherever did you find her?"

"I didn't just yet," said Phaedra, "I merely found where she is hiding. You see, I recently tracked the Multiversal transit of a fraction of the Eternal Flame. Apparently, the Eternal Flame has bonded with a human, who presently lives far in the future of another dimension. She recently passed through the Multiverse, traveling back in time. Now she is in the past, but she will soon return to the future. In order to capture her, we must create a powerful portal that leads right here. I felt that you should be here, to assist Celea and me in the creation of such a powerful portal."

Acheron thought about it for a moment. "You say the Eternal Flame has bonded with a human?"

"Yes," said Celea, "The Eternal Flame is a being of pure energy, but she has infused a part of her energy into a human being, making her corporeal."

"Even a fraction of the Eternal Flame's energies will power the Denebian Armada for eons!" said Acheron, "And, if we capture the human host, we can surely separate the Eternal Flame from her! Who is the host, and where is she now?"

"She is called Rachel Summers," said Phaedra, "and she now exists in the year 1980, in South Dakota of Earth 616, by Roma's Multiversal Count."

"Once she leaves this 'South Dakota' on her way back to the future, we shall be ready."

Character Thesaurus

So, you wanted to know about the characters in this book? )(That is....if you don't know them already!)

That is why I created this character thesaurus for you all! Enjoy!

Power Rangers

Jason Lee Scott - Red Power Ranger

Full Name:

Jason Lee Scott
Ranger Designation:

Red Power Ranger
Weapons:

Power Sword, Blade Blaster
Gear:

Wrist Communicator, Power Morpher with Power Coin
Zord:

Red Dragon Thunderzord

Strong and fearless, Jason is the former Red Ranger and original leader of the Power Rangers. To Jason went the Tyrannosaurus Power Coin, giving him the power of the Tyrannosaurus, and control of the Tyrannosaurus Dino Thunderzord. Red Ranger's power weapon is the Power Sword, a powerful weapon with a razor sharp edge. His weapon combined with the others to form the Power Blaster. As Red Ranger, Jason gained enhanced strength, speed, and durability. His tactical knowledge and fighting skill make him the ultimate Ranger. Jason closely follows the rules of Martial Arts, and promotes discipline and making friends out of enemies. It is this attitude that got him chosen to represent Angel Grove at the World Teen Summit, a peace conference in Switzerland he attended, leaving the Rangers with Trini Kwan and Zack Taylor that left a gap in the team which was then filled by Rocky DeSantos.

Zack Taylor - Black Power Ranger

Full Name:

Zack Taylor
Ranger Designation:

Black Power Ranger
Weapons:

Power Axe, Blade Blaster
Gear:

Wrist Communicator, Power Morpher with Power Coin
Zord:>

Lion Thunderzord

Quick witted and clever, Zack relies on speed and cunning to win his battles. The former Black Ranger was the jokester of team, loving dancing, magic, and girls, especially Angela. He cares for his friends and always tried to cheer them up when they're feeling down. A good friend with a good heart, Zack always loved a good joke, and loved it when Bulk and Skull embarrassed themselves in public. Zack is currently promoting world peace at a peace conference in Switzerland. To Zack went the Mastodon Power Coin, giving him the power of the Mastodon, and control of the Mastodon Dino Thunderzord. Black Ranger's power weapon is the Power Axe, which doubles as a powerful cannon. His weapon combined with the others to form the Power Blaster. As Black Ranger, Zack gained enhanced strength, speed, and durability. It is this attitude that got him chosen to represent Angel Grove at the World Teen Summit, a peace conference in Switzerland he attended, leaving the Rangers with Trini Kwan and Jason Lee Scott leaving a gap in the team to be filled by Adam Park.

Trini Kwan - Yellow Power Ranger

Full Name:

Trini Kwan
Ranger Designation:

Yellow Power Ranger
Weapons:

Power Daggers, Blade Blaster
Gear:

Wrist Communicator, Power Morpher with Power Coin
Zord:

Griffin Thunderzord

Trini is a quiet, spiritual, and honourable person. She believes in a fair fight, and has practiced the Mantis style of Kung Fu. Although quiet and reserved, Trini is very strong willed and courageous. Yellow Ranger's power weapon is the Power Daggers, powerful blades used for defense and for throwing. Her weapons combined with the others to form the Power Blaster. As Yellow Ranger, Trini gained enhanced strength, speed, and durability and gained control of the Sabertooth Tiger Dino Thunderzord. It is this attitude that got her chosen to represent Angel Grove at the World Teen Summit, a peace conference in Switzerland she attended, leaving the Rangers with Jason Lee Scott and Zack Taylor leaving a gap in the team to be filled by Aisha Campbell.

Kimberly Hart - Pink Power Ranger

Full Name:

Kimberly Hart
Ranger Designation:

Pink Power Ranger
Weapons:

Power Bow, Blade Blaster
Gear:

Wrist Communicator, Power Morpher with Power Coin
Zord:

Pterodactyl Dino Thunderzord

Kimberly was one of the five Rangers originally chosen by Zordon to protect the Earth against Rita Repulsa. She was given the Pterodactyl Power Coin and ability to morph into the Pink Ranger and control of the Pterodactyl Dino Thunderzord. Once ditzy and materialistic, Kimberly has evolved into a strong, confident, and caring person. A kind and compassionate soul, Kim cares a great deal about her friends, and will not take kindly to anyone messing with them. Her weapon combined with the others to form the Power Blaster. As Pink Ranger, Kim gained enhanced strength, speed, and durability as well as limited energy projection.

Billy Cranston - Blue Power Ranger

Full Name:

Billy Cranston
Ranger Designation:

Blue Power Ranger
Weapons:

Power Lance, Blade Blaster
Gear:

Wrist Communicator, Power Morpher with Power Coin
Zord:

Triceratops Dino Thunderzord

Billy is one of the original five teenagers chosen by Zordon to defend the planet from the forces of Rita Repulsa. As the Blue Ranger, Billy fought well against Putties and Tengas, and saved the Power Rangers on numerous occasions with devices that he created. Billy is the smartest of the Rangers, with a super genius IQ level. Once awkward and shy, Billy has evolved over time into the confident and capable person he is today. To Billy went the Triceratops Power Coin, giving him the power of the Triceratops, and control of the Triceratops Dinozord. His weapon combined with the others to form the Power Blaster. As Blue Ranger, Billy gained enhanced strength, speed, and durability as well as limited energy projection.

Tommy Oliver – White Power Ranger

Full Name:

Tommy Oliver
Ranger Designation:

White Power Ranger
Weapons:

Saba
Gear:

White Ranger Shield, Power Morpher with Power Coin, Wrist Communicator
Zord:

Tigerzord

After he lost the Green Ranger powers, the Power Rangers team was down to five. To keep up with the increasing intensity of Lord Zedd's attacks, Zordon created new White Ranger Powers and gave them to the only one he felt was worthy of receiving them - Tommy. With the Tiger Power Coin, Tommy rejoined the team and led them into one victory after another. White Ranger's power weapon is Saba, a talking Sabre that also controls the Tigerzord. As White Ranger, Tommy gained enhanced strength, speed, and durability as well as limited energy projection. He wore a special shield around his chest which protected him from many attacks. His powers were greater than those of the other Rangers, making him a nearly invincible opponent.

Alexis Darling - Purple Power Ranger

Full Name:

Alexis Darling
Ranger Designation:

Purple Power Ranger
Weapons:

Eagle Whip
Gear:

Eagle Shield, Power Morpher with Power Coin, Wrist Communicator
Zord:

Eaglezord
Powers:

Eagle Heart Pulse Blast

Alexis moved from Philadelphia to Angel Grove with her mother when her mother gained a job at an art gallery. Being new to Angel Grove, she didn't know what to expect and everything was brand new to her. Meeting the six teenagers that were the Power Rangers, she was accepted into their group and they were all later surprised when she became the Purple Power Ranger, inheriting her powers from an ancestor from long ago.

Rocky DeSantos - Red Power Ranger

Full Name:

Rocky DeSantos
Ranger Designation:

Red Power Ranger
Weapons:

Power Sword, Blade Blaster
Gear:

Wrist Communicator, Power Morpher with Power Coin, Metallic Armor, Red Shark Cycle
Zord:

Red Dragon Thunderzord

Rocky is like the class clown of the Rangers. Good natured, spirited, and likes to have fun. He may be low on the IQ points, but Rocky's martial arts prowess and stubbornness make him an excellent fighter and asset to the team. He first met the Rangers on a trip to Angel Grove to compete in the Ninja Competition, and helped them save a baby in danger. Proving himself worthy by assisting the Rangers several times, Rocky was given the power of the Red Ranger by the departing Jason. Jason used the Sword of Light to transfer his powers to Rocky. Red Ranger's power weapon is the Power Sword, a powerful weapon with a razor sharp edge. His weapon combined with the others to form the Power Blaster. As Red Ranger, Rocky gained enhanced strength, speed, durability, and limited energy projection.

Adam Park - Black Power Ranger

Full Name:

Adam Park
Ranger Designation:

Black Power Ranger
Weapons:

Power Axe, Blade Blaster
Gear:

Wrist Communicator, Power Morpher with Power Coin, Metallic Armor, Black Shark Cycle
Zord:

Lion Thunderzord

Adam is shy, sensitive and spiritual. His training has made him a disciplined and efficient fighter specializing in Shaolin Kung-Fu. He first met the Rangers while attempting to save a child in danger alongside of them. Originally from Stone Canyon, Adam moved to Angel Grove and transferred to Angel Grove High School. By fighting Zedd's forces with the Power Rangers, Adam proved himself to be a suitable replacement for Zack as the Black Ranger. Zack transferred his powers to Adam using the Sword of Light. Black Ranger's power weapon is the Power Axe, which doubles as a powerful cannon. His weapon combined with the others to form the Power Blaster. As Black Ranger, Adam gained enhanced strength, speed, durability, and limited energy projection.

Aisha Campbell - Yellow Power Ranger

Full Name:

Aisha Campbell
Ranger Designation:

Yellow Power Ranger
Weapons:

Power Daggers, Blade Blaster
Gear:

Wrist Communicator, Power Morpher with Power Coin, Metallic Armor, Yellow Shark Cycle
Zord:

Griffin Thunderzord

Spirited and full of energy, Aisha was always up to the challenge as a Power Ranger. She met the Power Rangers on a trip to Angel Grove, where she competed in the Ninja Competition along with Rocky and Adam. Aisha and her friends assisted the Rangers in the rescue of a baby in danger. She continued assisting the Rangers when they needed it, proving herself a formidable replacement for Trini as the Yellow Ranger. Trini left Aisha her powers by transferring them to her with the Sword of Light. Yellow Ranger's power weapons are the Power Daggers, powerful blades used for defense and for throwing. Her weapons combined with the others to form the Power Blaster. As Yellow Ranger, Aisha gained enhanced strength, speed, durability, and limited energy projection.

The Spectrum Force

Rachel Castaneda - The Purple Enforcer

Full Name:

Rachel Castenda
Enforcer Designation:

Purple Enforcer
Age:

21
Date of Birth:

February 24, 1978
Height:

5'8"
Hair:

Brown
Eyes:

Brown
Year in College:

Senior
Concentration:

Legal Studies
Hometown:

Miami, Florida
Vital Traits:

Practices kick-boxing; active in various university organizations; studious; very private; fluent in Spanish.

Keith Maloy - The Red Enforcer

Full Name:

Keith Maloy
Enforcer Designation:

The Red Enforcer
Age:

21
Date of Birth:

July 11, 1978
Height:

6'1"
Hair:

Blonde
Eyes:

Blue
Year in College:

Senior
Concentration:

Business Management
Hometown:

Houston, Texas
Vital Traits:

Achieved black-belt level in karate; enjoys water sports; mostly light-hearted and energetic; proficient in Japanese.

Craig Gillis - The Blue Enforcer

Full Name:

Craig Gillis
Enforcer Designation:

The Blue Enforcer
Age:

21
Date of Birth:

December 17, 1978
Height:

6'3"
Hair:

Black
Eyes:

Brown
Year in College:

Junior
Concentration:

Psychology
Hometown:

New York City, New York
Vital Traits:

Member of Dreiser University Varsity Basketball team; all-around athlete; often clownish; enjoys mostly laid-back lifestyle.

Jocelyn Armand - The Orange Enforcer

Full Name:

Jocelyn Armand
Enforcer Designation:

The Orange Enforcer
Age:

17
Date of Birth:

November 9, 1982
Height:

5'2"
Hair:

Light Brown
Eyes:

Hazel
Year in College:

Freshman
Concentration:

Undecided
Hometown:

San Francisco, California
Vital Traits:

Extremely intelligent, with excellent memory and problem-solving skills; participates in intramural beach volleyball and Dreiser University Women's Swim Team.

Matthew O'Conner - The Green Enforcer

Full Name:

Matthew O'Conner
Enforcer Designation:

The Green Enforcer
Age:

18
Date of Birth:

August 25, 1981
Height:

5'8"
Hair:

Copper Brown
Eyes:

Green
Year in College:

Freshman
Concentration:

Biology (Pre-Med)

Hometown:

Greenwich, Connecticut
Vital Traits:

Tends to be impatient and often sarcastic; volatile temper; sensitive.

Tamara Fox - The Yellow Enforcer

Full Name:

Tamara Fox
Enforcer Designation:

The Yellow Enforcer
Age:

19
Date of Birth:

April 21, 1980
Height:

5'5"
Hair:

Black
Eyes:

Brown
Year in College:

Sophomore
Concentration:

Theater Arts
Hometown:

Savannah, Georgia
Vital Traits:

Highly energetic, optimistic, and creative; athletic (particularly jogging and softball)

; artistic (sculpting, singing, dancing, and composing)

.

Mentors and Allies to the Power Rangers

Zordon

A wise old sage, Zordon used to fight evil around the galaxy, eventually establishing a base of operations on Earth. In a final battle with Rita Repulsa, Zordon was trapped in a time warp, his only window to our reality being a giant tube in the Command Center.

Alpha Five

Alpha 5, a fully sentient automaton, or robot, is the loyal assistant to Zordon in the Power Chamber. He was built on Edenoi by King Lexian, and recruited by Zordon to assist him in establishing a vanguard against evil on Earth.

Bulk and Skull

Bulk and Skull are Angel Grove High's resident punks, bullying those smaller than them, and always coming up with schemes to get fame or fortune, like finding out the identities of the Power Rangers.

Ernie

Ernie is the owner of the Angel Grove Youth Center, the most popular hang out spot for the teens of Angel Grove. Ernie is generous and good-natured, often giving out free drinks and food for special occasions, and helping out his customers if they need it.

Ms. Appleby

Ms. Appleby is one of Angel Grove's most dedicated and tolerant teachers. She constantly put up with the wacky antics of Bulk and Skull, and seems to have them in every subject she teaches.

Mr. Caplan

Mr. Caplan believes in three things- detention, wearing a toupee, and detention. A strict disciplinarian, Mr. Caplan never hesitates in issuing detention to those who deserve it. He loves seeing the students do things for the community and for the environment and does his best to encourage them all do it.

Angela

Zack attempted to gain the affections of Angela, often to no avail. She would turn him down several times before conceding to go on a date with him. When their date was ruined by a monster attack, Zack's chances with Angela seemed slim. However, he refused to give up and succeeded in making amends with her after several ruined attempts, earning a kiss on a lips for his efforts.

Allies and Mentors to the Spectrum Force

Spectra - Mentor to the Spectrum Force

Full Name:

Spectra
Designation:

Mentor to the Spectrum Force
Age:

Unknown
Date of Birth:

Unknown
Height:

5'8"
Hair:

Black with red highlights
Eyes:

Brown
Homeplanet:

Lumina City, Fesp

Vital Traits:

Determined to help the Spectrum Force complete their task in protecting the Earth, Spectra herself was once a member of her own Spectrum Force when she lived on Fesp.

Gaius – Mentor to Spectra and the Spectrum Force

Full Name:

Gaius
Designation:

Mentor to Spectra and the Spectrum Force
Age:

Unknown
Date of Birth:

Unknown
Height:

5’10”
Hair:

White
Eyes:

Brown
Homeplanet:

Lumina City, Fesp

Vital Traits:

He was the mentor of the original Spectrum Force. Passing his knowledge onto Spectra, he was on his way to returning to help her with this new generation of Spectrum Force when Phaedra struck him done with a virus called the Blight. Currently, he is in the care of Spectra and the Spectrum Force and has yet to awaken.

Luminus – Guardian of the Gateway Between Worlds

Full Name:

Luminus
Designation:

Guardian of the Gateway Between Worlds
Age:

Unknown
Date of Birth:

Unknown
Height:

5’12”
Hair:

White
Eyes:

Brown
Homeplanet:

Unknown

Vital Traits:

Not much is known about Luminus at all. All that is known is that he guards the Gateway the divides different Worlds.

Villains of the Power Rangers

Lord Zedd

Disgusted at Rita's performance at attempting to conquer Earth, Zedd came to the Moon himself to get rid of Rita and do the job right himself, but would also be unsuccessful. Rita found her way back to the Moon, and placed Zedd under a love spell. The two got married, and continued to fail at world domination.

Rita Repulsa

A feared sorceress, Rita attempts to conquer all in sight. After being released from a dumpster in which Zordon imprisoned her in a final battle, she tried to conquer Earth, with her crew. Rita had no luck however, being defeated by the Rangers time and time again.

Goldar

Goldar is Rita's top warrior. He frequently accompanies monsters to Angel Grove, and holds his own against the Rangers.

Squatt and Babboo

Rita's two bumbling henchmen do their best to help their mistress in her war against the Rangers, but usually end up screwing up.

Finster

Finster was part magician, part scientist. He created Putties and monsters for Rita, along with the occasional technological device. Finster was very easy going and gentle by nature.

Scorpina

Scorpina is a ruthless and cunning femme fatale who served on Rita's side since the time of the evil Green Ranger. She used a sword in combat, which doubled as a boomerang. When she grew in size to battle the Zords, she assumed a monstrous appearance.

Putty Patrol

Putties are the expendable warriors made of clay who are sent down to Earth to wear down the Rangers before a monster fight, as well as for sabotage and special missions. Rita's putties would take many different forms, including pumpkin head putties, ball handed putties, and football player putties. Using a powerful clay she found, she created super putties, which were significantly harder to defeat.

Z Putties

When Lord Zedd arrived, he brought with him the Z Putty Patrol, which were more powerful than any previous putties, and had to be hit in the Z spot to be destroyed.

Villains of the Spectrum Force

Phaedra - Empress of Denebia

Full Name:

Phaedra
Designation:

Empress of Denebia
Age:

Unknown
Date of Birth:

Unknown
Height:

5'8"
Hair:

Blonde
Eyes:

Brown
Homeplanet:

Denebia

Vital Traits:

Determined to take over the Earth, Phaedra is empress of the planet Denebia. Violent and Deadly when she is angered, she is truly dangerous to approach one on one.

Celea – Princess of Denebia

Full Name:

Celea
Age:

Unknown
Date of Birth:

Unknown
Height:

5’6”
Hair:

Black
Eyes:

Brown
Homeplanet:

Denebia

Vital Traits:

Celea is Phaedra’s daughter. She is spoiled and when she doesn’t get her own way she is known to fly into severe temper tantrums. She was raised to be a warrior which she uses those skills to their fullest when fighting her enemies.

About the Author

Heather Ray lives in Logansport, Indiana where she enjoys spending time with family and friends. In her spare time when she isn't reading, writing, going to school at the local college of Ivy Tech Community College or working on various art projects, she enjoys swimming and playing basketball with the Special Olympics, watching movies with her god daughter, Lucy, (who happens to be the reason why Heather decided to transfer the fanfiction that she originally wrote this and other book series' into books!)

, acting with the local theater troupe in her hometown, singing, and working on her voice over work.

Her favorite book series includes The House of Night, Peter and the Starcatchers, Daughters of the Moon, The Nick Chronicles

(among other Dark Hunters books!)

, the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings Book Series, the Harry Potter series, the Sookie Stackhouse series

, and she is also a bit of a comics 'nerd'

with her love for X-Men, Batman, Avengers,

just to name a few of her favorite comics. She also enjoys reading several mangas which include Chobits, Ceres Celestial Legend, Vampire Knight,

and Sailor Moon

!

Not only does she enjoy reading, as is stated above, she also loves watching movies and various TV Shows. Her favorite TV Shows include True Blood, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel

, all the seasons of Power Rangers, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Doctor Who

and Once Upon a Time

. Her favorite movies include all the Star Wars

movies, all the Star Trek

movies, the Lord of the Rings

trilogy (she is really looking forward to see The Hobbit

soon!)

, all the Marvel Comics

movies, the Chronicles of Narnia

movies and all the Harry Potter

movies! She also enjoys several animes including Chobits, Ceres Celestial Legend, Rosario Vampire, Vampire Knight,

and her favorite: Sailor Moon

(she is a bit obsessed with Sailor Moon what with not only enjoying the anime but also the live action series from Japan, and the musical series: Sera Myu

! She also cannot wait for the new anime series of Sailor Moon that is due out in a year!)

When she isn't at home writing or spending time with her friends and family, Heather can be found going around her home town (where she picked up a lot of her ideas for these books)

or at her local library, picking up new ideas for her next book!

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 14.07.2012

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